Merchant and USA Basketball Earn Silver Medal at Pan Am Games
8/11/2019 9:17:00 AM | Women's Basketball
LIMA, Peru - Michigan State head coach Suzy Merchant led the United States women's basketball team to a silver medal at the Pan American games in Lima, Peru on Saturday night.
The U.S. was looking for its first Pan Am women's basketball gold medal since 2007, the U.S. (4-1) came up short offensively, falling 79-73 to Brazil (5-0) in the gold medal game at Coliseo Eduardo Dibos in Lima. The U.S. women are now 82-16 all-time in Pan American Games basketball competitions, and have captured seven gold medals, six silvers and two bronze medals.Â
"It's tough," said USA head coach Merchant said. "You have to give Brazil credit. Their guard play - they were better than our guards tonight, especially Taina Da Paixao. And, we turned it over early, uncharacteristically. So, you'd like to take maybe four or five of those back and have a shot at it again."
Puerto Rico (3-2) won bronze with a 66-55 victory over Colombia (2-3).
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Down 55-53 starting the fourth quarter, the U.S. tied the score 57-all after Chennedy Carter was fouled on a 3-pointer and made two of the three free throws.
Brazil took control once again with a 10-4 scoring run that saw Brazil's lead reach double-digits for the first time, 72-62 with 1:28 to play. Brazil converted on seven of its final eight free throws to put the game away and capture the 79-73 victory.