Latvia head to EuroBasket Women with plenty of rookies

RIGA (EuroBasket Women 2015) - Latvia coach Ainars Zvirgzdins has elected to travel to the EuroBasket Women next week with several players that will appear in a Final Round for the first time.

The national team boss has handed debut slots to five players, with Ruta Veidere, Ieva Krastina and Liene Priede all let go on the day of the final cut.

Latvia's EuroBasket Women newcomers are Kate Aizsila, Dita Rozenberga, Zenta Melnika, Ieva Kulite and Kristine Vitola.

Though Latvia will play in Szombathely against Croatia, Great Britain, Russia and Serbia in Group C with five rookies, there is a very experienced duo in the squad with Gunta Basko-Melnbarde and Anete Jekabsone-Zogota having rejoined the team for this tournament.

Both veterans helped take Latvia to new heights at the EuroBasket Women eight years ago in Italy when they finished fourth, and the following year in Madrid when they clinched a spot in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Another player with a lot of experience is Aija Putnina, the 27-year-old center who averaged 12.5 points and 6.7 rebounds per game in the 2nd Qualification Round.

Putnina has played at the big tournaments for Latvia since 2009, when the country hosted the EuroBasket Women.

Latvia final squad for EuroBasket Women 2015: Kate Aizsila, Gunta Basko-Melnbarde, Zane Eglīte, Anete Jekabsone, Kate Kreslina, Ieva Kulite, Dita Liepkalne, Zenta Melnika, Aija Putnina, Dita Rozenberga, Anete Steinberga and Kristine Vitola.

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

FIBA