FUKUOKA ¨C A strong performance by Bradie Tennell helped the United States win the World Team Trophy on Saturday at Marine Messe.

The U.S. captured the biennial competition for the fourth time with a total score of 117 points. Japan was second with 104, while Russia finished third on 102.

The Americans entered the day with a 12-point lead over Japan and were able to retain their advantage as Tennell posted a career-high score of 150.83 points with her second-place finish in the free skate.

Elizaveta Tuktamysheva captured the free skate and the women¡¯s competition with a personal-best total score of 234.43. Tennell was second at 225.64 (also a career best), with Kaori Sakamoto taking third on 223.65 (another career-high total).

Rika Kihira, who won the short program with a record score, ended up fourth with 222.34 after coming in fifth following a calamitous free skate.

Tuktamysheva skated to ¡°You Don¡¯t Love Me¡± and ¡°Petite Fleur¡± and put on a show for her adoring Japanese fans. She landed a huge triple axel to start and went on to hit a total of eight clean triples in the victory.

The 22-year-old exhibited great style and panache throughout her program and earned level four for her spins and step sequence.

¡°I was glad that the season ended so good,¡± stated Tuktamysheva. ¡°I was able to do all of my jumps well today. The judges gave me good marks, so I am happy.¡±

Tuktamysheva noted that the triple axel was key to her success in the free skate.

¡°This season my triple axel became more stable. When I land the triple axel, I become more confident about my other jumps,¡± Tuktamysheva commented. ¡°I was relieved when I finished, knowing I did my best.¡±

Tuktamysheva, who said she is planning to use two triple axels in her free skate next season, saluted the fans of the host nation for their support

¡°I wanted to give all my emotion today because the crowd was really cheering for me,¡± Tuktamysheva said. ¡°They really encouraged me. The audience in Japan is always wonderful.¡±

Tennell, the 2018 U.S. champion, competed to ¡°Romeo and Juliet¡± in a program choreographed by Benoit Richaud, and may have had her best outing ever. The 21-year-old hit seven triples and received level fours for her spins and step sequence.

¡°I think today was the best I have ever skated my long program and I¡¯m super proud of that,¡± Tennell stated. ¡°It¡¯s been a tough season, so I¡¯m really happy that I was able to skate it so freely today in front of the best crowd. What a great way to end the season.¡±

Tennell is hoping to take the momentum from her results here into next season.

¡°I think this will really be a big confidence booster for me,¡± Tennell noted. ¡°This season I second-guessed myself a lot when I got out there. I was trying too hard to force it to happen instead of being myself and letting it happen.¡±

Sakamoto skated to ¡°The Piano¡± and landed six triples, but received an edge call on her triple lutz. She got level fours on her spins, but only a level three on her step sequence.

¡°I was very nervous, but I told myself I could do it and went out and did it,¡± Sakamoto remarked. ¡°I was worried at the end if I had really done all of my jumps. I focused a lot on the triple lutz, flying sit spin and step sequence, but unfortunately I was not able to do it well.¡±

Sakamoto acknowledged that the judges may have been generous with their scoring.

¡°If that was a season¡¯s best, I know I can do a better performance,¡± Sakamoto said.

Rika Kihira competed to ¡°A Beautiful Storm¡± and fell on her opening triple axel. She then did not attempt a second triple axel, opting for a double axel/triple toe loop combination.

Kihira was still in decent shape at that point, but then fell again on the back end of a triple lutz/triple toe loop combo. The 16-year-old posted level fours for her spins and step sequence, but the falls took the life out of her program.

¡°I felt like I had spent all of my energy in the short program and my body was very tense today,¡± Kihira stated. ¡°I tried to improve it with massaging before the free skate, but it didn¡¯t work. My legs were very heavy today.¡±

Kihira cited her condition as something that needs work moving forward.

¡°For next season I need to be really aware of myself and my form,¡± Kihira said. ¡°I want to have good chemistry with the rink and be able to do my two triple axels with ease.

¡°Because of the difficulty of my program, I need to be really aware of my condition,¡± Kihira added. ¡°I felt like I did not have enough stamina.¡±

France¡¯s Vanessa James and Morgan Cipres won the pairs free skate and competition with a total score of 226.00. Russia¡¯s Natalia Zabiiako and Alexander Enbert were second at 217.12.

The World Team Trophy will conclude with the Exhibition Gala on Sunday.