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Pitt women's head basketball coach Suzie McConnell-Serio has her team one game away from a championship.
The USA U19 team she is coaching will play in the finals of the FIBA World Cup on Sunday against Russia. The game will be at 3:00 p.m. EST. That comes on the heels of a 73-66 win against Japan on Saturday. Before that, the U.S. knocked off France on Friday in the quarterfinals, 78-51.
McConnell-Serio's team played a tight first quarter with Japan leading by only two. But the Americans opened that up and got into halftime with a 14-point lead after Japan tied things up in the second quarter.
The lead grew to 22 by the end of the third and it looked like they were on their way to yet another blowout in the tournament. But Japan kept things close and ultimately lost by only seven.
The win was especially perfect since today is also the Pitt coach's birthday.
Happy birthday, Suzie McConnell-Serio! (& good luck today leading #USABWU19 v. Japan in #FIBAU19 World Cup semifinals!) #USABFamily pic.twitter.com/mK1002K5Of
— USA Basketball (@usabasketball) July 29, 2017
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