Suzie McConnell-Serio is regarded as one of the greatest undersized guards to play basketball. Period, full stop.
The 5-foot-4 Upper St. Clair girls coach won a gold medal in the Olympics and played in the WNBA, highlights on a decorated resume.
If anyone can appreciate a runty point guard with court vision and determination, it is her.
McConnell-Serio saw something special in Norwin freshman Giuliana Giannikas on Tuesday night.
Giannikas, a 5-foot-2 point guard, charged up the Knights early with her shooting, ball handling and passing — leaving coaches and players shaking their heads — as top-ranked Norwin won a first-place showdown in Section 2-6A, 46-32, in snow-blanketed North Huntingdon
With the win, Norwin (14-3, 6-1) clinched a playoff spot and swept the No. 5 Panthers (8-10, 3-4), who beat them in last year’s WPIAL championship.
USC has dropped three straight after winning five in a row.
Giannikas had 17 points to lead all scorers. She made 7 of 10 shots, including three 3-pointers.
She has led the team in scoring in three straight games.
“She’s unbelievable,” McConnell-Serio said of Giannikas. “That kid is skilled. Not just as a 3-point shooter but all around. She overcomes her size.”
McConnell-Serio would know. She was once cut from a world championships team after she was accomplished.
“They said I was too small,” she said. “That was after I had just won a gold medal. (The size is) just something that always motivates you.”
Norwin took a 10-5 lead after the first quarter — Giannikas buried a 3 at the buzzer — and led 27-18 at the half.
Giannikas had nine in the second quarter, including a smooth left-handed layup through traffic and a 3.
“It was difficult missing two days (because of weather). You could tell we hadn’t been in the gym,” Norwin coach Brian Brozeski said. “It was 2-0 for the longest time, like a hockey game. We needed that spark. Gules and (sophomore) Jackie DeMarines kind of got us going. Jackie is a tough, lacrosse kid. With Gules, you see her growing. Her ability to dribble in the paint and use the pivot … she can find others and help them get open.”
Upper St. Clair cut the deficit to 35-26 after three quarters, when each team scored eight points.
Junior Audrey Brown hit a 3 to make it 31-24.
Junior Anelise Castrodale made a layup for the Panthers to make it 37-30 early in the fourth, but that’s when the Knights took command of a chippy matchup.
Sophomore Aubrey Graney delivered a high shot off the glass and was fouled with 5 minutes, 18 seconds remaining. Her free throw made it 40-30.
Giannikas swished another 3 from the wing as Norwin peeled away for its fourth win in five games.
“It’s never safe when you play Upper St. Clair,” Brozeski said. “You might be comfortable in the stands, but you can’t let up. They are so well coached. They can explode on you.”
Sophomore 6-1 forward Ekaterina Polstyanko led USC with 12 points, and Brown added nine.
“Norwin is so good defensively,” McConnell-Serio said. “They play hard and have a number of 3-point shooters. We didn’t hit shots. We need to do a better job rebounding and with second chances.”
Junior Liz Yarosik, sophomore Nia O’Barto and DeMarines scored six each for Norwin.