Basketball World University Games in Belgrade - Coach Tom Maher has selected a powerful squad
Last updated 24/06/2009 10:44:27
Coach Tom Maher has selected a powerful squad
New coach Tom Maher has selected a powerful twelve player roster for the World University Games in Belgrade.
Ten of the squad are based In the United States of America and just two English based. The team also includes six players who travelled to Croatia for three senior GB test games.
"Now we've selected the roster we can begin to build as a team," said Maher, "as it will be the first time we will be distinct from the whole training group.
"We will treat the World University Games with the respect it requires but we are not going to set the world on fire, we are trying to look to the long term; to the Olympics."
Azania Stewart and Yemi Oyefuwa both made their senior debuts in Croatia, with Stewart top scoring in the third and final test game, which the visitors only lost by two.
Maher added: "We picked the team for Croatia not by age, but on who the best players were to travel.
"The trip was as I expected it would be, it was what it was. It was a big change from the way the players have played at their clubs and to what they're used to.
"We lost by sixteen, sixteen and then two so we showed a good build of improvement. This is the start of the journey, and the girls know that."
The World University Games team:
Head Coach - Tom Maher
Assistant Coach - Damian Jennings
Team Manager - Lucy Power
Squad:
Anderson, Rose - University of Central Oklahoma (USA)
Butters, Kate - Loughborough University (ENG)
Jones, Georgia - Oral Roberts (USA)
Handy, Chantelle - Marshall (USA)
Leedham, Jen - Franklin Pierce (USA)
Leedham, Johanna - Franklin Pierce (USA)
Luckhurst, Nikki - Tulane University (USA)
Naylor, Helen - Leeds Metropolitan (ENG)
Stewart, Azania - Florida University (USA)
Buchan, Mari - Old Dominion (USA)
Oyefuwa, Yemi - University of Maryland (USA)
Turner, Crystal - Oral Roberts (USA)
More: British Basketball News