Great Britain trim roster to 16 ahead of EuroBasket Women

LONDON (EuroBasket Women 2015) - The pool of Great Britain players competing for a spot at EuroBasket Women 2015 next month (11-28 June) has been reduced to 16.

A trio of players in the shape of Janice Monakana, Helen Naylor and Mrashi Karumba will not be involved in the ongoing preparation camp at the University of Worcester Arena after head coach Pete Buckle opted to trim down his squad.

Monakana is likely to still feature in a national team vest this summer at the U20 European Championship Women Division B in Montenegro, having top scored for her country at the same event last year.

Meanwhile Naylor and Karumba are expected to rest ahead of returning to impress in the Women's British Basketball League (WBBL) for the 2015-16 season.

Buckle will now take his players on an important trip to Lyon this week for a warm-up tournament against Serbia, Slovak Republic and the host nation.

"We are looking forward to testing ourselves in these crucial first preparation games," said the play-caller.

"Due to some illness in the camp, this has impacted on our original plans and so we are playing catch-up a little bit - but we now look forward to getting back on track in our preparations.

"We will be playing three quality teams in Lyon who are all going to Final Round next month, so it will be a good workout for us."

Great Britain preliminary squad for EuroBasket Women 2015: Dominique Allen, Jay-Ann Bravo-Harriott, Ella Clark, Stef Collins, Temi Fagbenle, Stephanie Gandy, Chantelle Handy, Nicole How, Georgia Jones, Erin McGarrachan, Harriet Ottewill-Soulsby, Hannah Peacock, Chantelle Pressley, Eilidh Simpson, Azania Stewart, Rachael Vanderwal.

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

FIBA