Great Britain Women’s EuroBasket qualifiers to tip-off at Worcester’s University Arena

By Sam Neter on March 24, 2014

British Basketball have announced that the Great Britain senior women’s team will play its three home qualifying games for the 2015 EuroBasket Women at Worcester’s 2,000 seat University Arena.

The games in the Second Qualification Round will be staged in June against Belgium, F.Y.R. of Macedonia and Lithuania.

Success would represent a third successive qualification for the Finals and a maintained presence among Europe’s elite teams.

Sinéad Gordon, British Basketball Head of Operations, believes that holding the games at the Worcester Arena provides a great opportunity for the sport and hopes the support of the British basketball crowd will help:

“The team will have a challenging EuroBasket qualifying campaign, especially with three successive away fixtures, but through the selection of the new University Arena in Worcester, we are providing a great platform for the team to go out and perform in front of a capacity crowd on our home court.”

“In recent years we have enjoyed competing at Surrey and have had a great relationship with Surrey Sports Park but we are especially looking forward to be heading to the new 2000-seat Arena at Worcester, which is such a strong basketball area and of course boast current BBL franchise, Worcester Wolves.”

“We believe the opportunity for the women to compete at the big venues is an invaluable experience, and we are excited about the prospect of working closely with the University of Worcester across the campaign.”

First up, Great Britain will tangle with Belgium on Sunday, 8 June, with the Belgians likely to include some of the best young talents in Europe. However, they are under pressure to now start delivering under the watchful eye of head-coach Daniel Goethals. Tip-off for this opening game is at 2pm.

Following three successive away games, Great Britain will then go up against the group’s underdogs in F.Y.R. of Macedonia on Sunday June 22nd again with a 2pm tip-off. Britain will take on a proud basketball nation buoyed by their men’s achievement of reaching the 2011 EuroBasket semi finals and finishing fourth. After investment into their youth teams, the women’s team now look ready to compete at a similar level.

The final home match-up against Lithuania could decide Group A and will take place just three days later, on Wednesday, 25 June at 7pm. Unlike Great Britain, the Lithuanians didn’t reach the second phase of last year’s EuroBasket Women in France. But, led by former FIBA Europe Young Women’s Player of the Year, Ginatre Petronyte and with new head coach Mantas Sernius eager to make an impression, they will provide stern opposition.

Professor David Green, the University’s Vice Chancellor and Chief Executive said:

“The University of Worcester is delighted to be hosting top flight international basketball this June as our GB Women’s team take on Belgium, Macedonia and Lithuania. The University of Worcester Arena has already established itself as Britain’s leading venue for wheelchair basketball and one of the regular top choices for top national and international netball matches.”

“These basketball internationals will provide a terrific and affordable opportunity for the people of our region to support our national women’s team and enjoy a thrilling tournament, all taking place on our doorstep.”

The full schedule for the GB Senior Women’s Second Qualification Round games is:

DAY DATE TIME GAME
SUN 08 June 14:00 Great Britain v Belgium, University of Worcester Arena
WED 11 June TBC F.Y.R. of Macedonia v Great Britain
SUN 15 June TBC Lithuania v Great Britain
WED 18 June TBC Belgium v Great Britain
SUN 22 June 14:00 Great Britain v F.Y.R. of Macedonia, University of Worcester Arena
WED 25 June 19:00 Great Britain v Lithuania, University of Worcester Arena

Ticket Prices:
Single Game Ticket – Adult £15/Concession £10
Three-Game Ticket – Adult £35/Concession £22

Those wanting to get hold of a ticket can do so by visiting www.ticketline.co.uk or by calling the box office on 0844 888 991.

The pre-sale offering 33% off tickets takes place on Wednesday 12 March 2014 at 9am with tickets going on general sale at 9am on Monday 17 March.

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