FRA - Vincent cuts squad to 15
LYON (FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Women) - France coach Pierre Vincent is slowly but surely trimming his roster to the 12 players that will compete at the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) for Women in Ankara. Gaelle Skrela and Pauline Jannault-Lo have been left out of the latest group, which now numbers 15. Among those still with a ...
LYON (FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Women) - France coach Pierre Vincent is slowly but surely trimming his roster to the 12 players that will compete at the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) for Women in Ankara.
Gaelle Skrela and Pauline Jannault-Lo have been left out of the latest group, which now numbers 15.
Among those still with a chance of playing in Turkey are point guard Anael Lardy.
The 24-year-old won the gold medal with France at the EuroBasket Women 2009 in Riga, Latvia, and then travelled to the Czech Republic the following summer and helped Les Bleues clinch sixth place.
However, she was not in last year's squad that captured bronze at the EuroBasket in Poland.
Lardy spent this season with Challes-les-Eaux and averaged 7.9 points, 2.5 assists and 3.2 rebounds.
A rising star in the French set-up that still has a chance to impress and earn a spot in the team is Diandra Tchatchouang.
The 1.89m Lattes Montepellier forward is the youngest of the players at 20 years of age.
The five Bourges players who weren't able to join the national team until after their participation in the Coupe de France are now with Vincent and in the squad.
They are Marielle Amant, Jennifer Digbeu, Celine Dumerc, Endene Miyem and Emmeline Ndongue.
France played Poland in two warm-up games over the weekend and won both.
At the des Sports Lyon-Gerland, the French jumped out to an early 13-4 lead and ended up winning 74-66.
Sandrine Gruda led the French with 20 points while Emilie Gomis weighed in with 13 and Celine Dumerc 12.
In the second meeting on Sunday at Andrézieux Bouthéon, France didn’t have it all their own way.
They only led 33-31 at half-time but pulled away in the second half for a 74-56 victory.
"The first half was certainly more difficult because we lacked intensity at the beginning,” France’s Clemence Beikes said.
"We were too focused on the strategy and we forgot to play defense and weren't aggressive.
“Then we adjusted and that made the difference."
Vincent was not unduly concerned.
"Winning is hard," Vincent said.
"To do so by 20 points even more so."
Isabelle Yacoubou led a balanced attack with 13 points.
The sides will meet again on Monday at Bourg-en-Bresse.
FIBA