VERNON, BC -- Canada's Jennifer Jones needed an extra end to defeat Japan's Moe Meguro 7-4 here at the World Womens Curling Championship Wednesday morning.

In a game in which the two teams traded singles all game, Canada saved their biggest firepower for the extra frame, cracking a three-ender to put an exclamation point on the victory.

The extra end was set up by third Cathy Overton-Clapham, who negotiated a small port to pluck a Japanese counter off the back four-foot and then roll behind cover.

"I didn't make any big shots all game so it was nice to make that one," said Overton Clapham, who was outshot 85-69 by her Japanese counterpart, Mari Motohashi.

"It was a little bit of a nailbiter," said Winnipeg's Jones, "and we were happy to have the hammer in the extra."

The win improves Canada to 7-1 and keeps them alone in second place. China, who was idle Wednesday morning, continues to lead at 7-0, while Denmark and Switzerland trail Canada by a game at 6-2.

Denmark scored one with the hammer in the extra end to beat Germany Wednesday morning, while Switzerland smoked Italy 10-2 in just seven ends.

In the only other game Wednesday morning, USA stayed in the playoff hunt with a narrow 7-6 win over Czech Republic. The Americans took two in the eighth end and then stole two in the ninth end to avoid losing their third straight.

The victory improves the Americans record to 5-3, putting them alone in fifth place heading into the afternoon draw. The top four teams at the conclusion of the round-robin tomorrow advance to the page playoffs.

The worlds resumes here this afternoon when Canada plays Scotland, Germany plays Russia, Switzerland plays China and Sweden plays Czech Republic.

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