Great Britain to feature five debutantes in Hungary

LONDON (EuroBasket Women 2015) - Great Britain will have five EuroBasket Women Final Round debutantes in their line-up when they step out for their third consecutive appearance at the event.

Head coach Peter Buckle and his team will take to the floor in Hungary with an array of newcomers and leading the way will be Temi Fagbenle.

While a Final Round rookie, the center already has Olympic experience under her belt and also showed her prowess last summer during qualification when she led the way in scoring with a highly productive 16.6 points per game.

Eilidh Simpson also helped the team punch their ticket with some nice contributions off the bench, while Scottish star Erin Mc Garrachan is also rewarded for her input with a first major tournament at senior level.

Also exciting for fans of British basketball is the promotion of two U20 eligible players in the shape of guard Jay-Ann Bravo-Harriott and centre Harriet Ottewill-Soulsby, who will find their first senior minutes in the competition.

As well as a host of Final Round first-timers, there is plenty of know-how in the side with the likes of veteran guards Stef Collins and Rachael Vanderwal, as well as frontcourt operators and fellow Olympians, Chantelle Handy and Azania Stewart.

The two players who miss out from the previous candidate list are Hannah Peacock and Nicole How - the latter desperately unlucky having fought her way back from three ACL injuries in three years, only to be ruled out of this potential first tournament with concussion.

"We are excited by what lies in wait this week," said Buckle.

"We have put in a lot of work and now we will test ourselves at the tournament.

"It will be a challenge, but you always expect to play the best when you go into a competition like EuroBasket Women.

"It was difficult to have to wave goodbye to Nicole [How] as injury meant she couldn't continue which is a pity, because she would have been in our side.

"However, she never really recovered from a blow she took to the head in one of the preparation games and she has been withdrawn on medical advice due to issues around the concussion she sustained.

"As for Hannah [Peacock], she continues to make big strides and is someone who will be involved with the senior team in the future.

"She has worked hard and will be a big factor this summer for the U20 team again."

Great Britain final roster for EuroBasket Women 2015: Dominique Allen, Jay-Ann Bravo-Harriott, Stef Collins, Ella Clark, Temi Fagbenle, Stephanie Gandy, Chantelle Handy, Erin McGarrachan, Harriet Ottewill-Soulsby, Eilidh Simpson, Azania Stewart, Rachael Vanderwal.

Go to eurobasketwomen2015.com for full coverage of EuroBasket Women 2015.

FIBA