Higuchi wins women's gold, Miura and Kihara capture pairs in big night for Japan at Skate America

Wakaba Higuchi won her first Grand Prix event after more than eight years of trying Saturday night, putting together an error-free program at Skate America to edge Japanese teammate Rinka Watanabe and American star Isabeau Levito.

Higuchi finished with 196.93 points at Credit Union of Texas Event Center in Allen, Texas, while Watanabe took the silver medal with 195.22 points. Levito made a significant mistake, falling on her triple lutz, and was third with 194.83 points.

"I got excited with how well I was getting through the program and I rushed the jump," said Levito, who was the leader after the short program, "and immediately while I was in the air I was like, `Oh, that's not a good thing to do."'

WATCH | Japan's Wakaba Higuchi wins women's title at Skate America:

Japan's Wakaba Higuchi wins women's title at Skate America

In the pairs event, Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara began the medal haul for Japan by following a dazzling short program with a winning free skate. They scored 214.33 points to outdistance Ellie Kam and Danny O'Shea, the reigning U.S. champions, who took the silver medal with 201.73 points. American teammates Alisa Efimova and Misha Mitrofanov were third.

"It's great to be back," Kihara said. "It's been a while since we won a competition so we are happy about that as well."

WATCH | Japan's Miura, Kihara capture pairs title at Skate America:

Japan's Miura, Kihara capture pairs title at Skate America

Higuchi was fourth after her short program, but the 23-year-old from Tokyo was poised and precise in her free skate. And while Watanabe nearly matched her moments later, her level-3 spins and under-rotated jumps left Higuchi clinging to the lead.

Bradie Tennell, who was second to Levito after the