LTU – Expecting Salkauske withdraws from Lithuania’s EuroBasket Women squad

VILNIUS (2010 FIBA World Championship for Women) - Lithuania are hoping to qualify for next year’s FIBA World Championship for Women in the Czech Republic with a strong showing at the EuroBasket in Latvia.

That tough task became even harder when power forward/center Iveta Salkauske pulled out of the squad this week after discovering she is expecting another baby.

Salkauske is the third high-profile player Lithuania have lost in the build-up to the EuroBasket Women with injuries also depriving the national team of Aurimas Rinkeviciute and Jurgita Streimikyte.

“Adding up all of our losses, we can say they are very painful,” national team coach Rutenis Paulauskas said.

“What we now have is very different from what we could have.

“But life goes on. The younger players will have more chances. From a quality point of view, our team is weaker, but morale is still high. Our goals stay the same - to qualify for the World Championship.”

The timing could not be worse for Lithuania, though.

“It comes only a week before the European Championship so for us, it is a real shock,” Paulauskas said.

“Iveta is an experienced player that has one of the most important roles in the team.”

Salkauske averaged 10.2 points and 6.1 rebounds per game at the EuroBasket Women in Chieti two years ago.

Lithuania will take on Serbia, Turkey and Russia in Group C play in Valmiera.

FIBA