Yilmaz back on board with Turkey

ISTANBUL (EuroBasket Women 2015) - Nevriye Yilmaz is the headline name on Turkey's preliminary roster list for EuroBasket Women 2015 after the national team legend opted to continue offering the stellar service she has provided for more than 15 years.

Many had expected Yilmaz to use last year's FIBA Women's World Championship as a swansong, but due to turn 35 during the forthcoming tournament in Hungary and Romania, the frontcourt star will once again be the anchor in the paint alongside the naturalised Lara Sanders.

Both players were hugely important last autumn when Turkey made it to the Semi-Finals on home soil.

Other big-hitters such as Isil Alben of Dynamo Kursk and the experienced Birsel Vardarli Demirmen return in the backcourt, with a big injection of youth including the likes of Pelin Bilgic of Adana Botas, Burcu Cigil of Mersin Buyuksehir and Pinar Demirok of Agu Spor.

The highest profile omission is veteran guard Tugba Palazoglu, while the only other player not included who played last year on home soil is Esmeral Tuncluer, who has retired from the game.

New head coach Ekrem Memnun will welcome his players into camp this weekend, with those involved in the latter stages of the TKBL post-season joining as soon as they become available.

With Memnum himself hoping to take Galatasaray odeabank to a successful defense of their title, assistant coach and TBF Youth Development Coordinator, Aziz Akkaya, will oversee the training camp until the play-caller is available.

I wish all of our players and coaches success. - Ozyigit

"I have no doubt that our athletes will put forth the necessary effort to represent Turkey in the best way possible at EuroBasket Women 2015," senior women's national team general manager Arzu Ozyigit said.

Turkey will play in Group B in Oradea against Belarus, Greece, Poland and Italy as they look to finish on the podium for a third successive occasion.

They captured silver at the EuroBasket Women 2011 in Poland and bronze two years ago in France.

Turkey preliminary squad for EuroBasket Women 2015: Isil Alben, Pelin Bilgic, Bahar Caglar, Olcay Cakir, Tugce Canitez, Burcu Cigil, Ayse Cora, Begum Dalgalar, Birsel Vardarli Demirmen, Pinar Demirok, Safiye Karaman, Cansu Koksal, Tugce Murat, Lara Sanders, Tilbe Senyurek, Saziye Ivegin Uner, Esra Ural, OzgeYavas and Nevriye Yilmaz.

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

FIBA