The U.S. Women's National Basketball Team narrowly defeated Italy 55-52 on Sunday, clinching a spot in the FIBA Women's World Cup quarterfinals. The victory, however, came after a tightly contested game where Italy held a lead midway through the fourth quarter and had a chance to tie the game with a final shot that ultimately missed.
Team USA struggled offensively throughout the matchup, shooting a mere 29% from the field and only making one of twelve attempts from beyond the arc. Jackie Young led the Americans with a team-high 10 points, and was the only U.S. player to shoot above 40% from the field. Caitlin Clark, a prominent player for the team, finished the game with just one point and was held without a field goal.
Italy's Cecilia Zandalasini was the game's leading scorer with 14 points, seven rebounds, and was the standout player for her team. Had Italy secured the win, it would have been considered one of the biggest upsets in the history of the FIBA Women's World Cup.
With this win, the U.S. improved its group play record to 2-0. The team's performance highlights areas for improvement as they aim for a championship run. 
