Published: May 05, 2009 06:50 am      

Merchant to assist U.S. basketball team

She'll coach in World Games

EAST LANSING -- Suzy Merchant will represent the United States this summer.

The Michigan State women's basketball coach and Traverse City native was named an assistant coach for the U.S. Women's World University team.

Held every other year, the World University Games will take place July 1-11 in Belgrade, Serbia. Trials will be held for team members May 14-17 with training camp beginning on June 18.

Merchant will assist head coach Charli Turner Thorne, who coaches at Arizona State. Turner Thorne was an assistant on the team in 2007 and led the U.S. to a gold medal.

This is Merchant's first experience working with Team USA, which also named Pepperdine's Julie Rousseau an assistant..

Merchant just wrapped up her second season at MSU.