12 Selected for GB Senior Women Qualifier vs Montenegro

Great Britain Senior Women’s Head Coach, Jose Maria Buceta has selected the twelve players who will suit up for Saturday’s first EuroBasket Women 2017 qualifying game in Montenegro.

The Spanish play-caller has handed debuts to three frontcourt players, with newcomer Jamila Thompson getting the nod for the first time – along with teenage WBBL duo Eleanor Jones and Savannah Wilkinson.

Thompson recently embarked on her first professional contract in Spain and the forward has impressed with Cref Hola of Madrid.

Leicester Riders’ centre Jones, who played with the U18 side earlier in the summer and Wilkinson of Barking Abbey Crusaders, who was her England team-mate, have both made solid starts in the WBBL this season and impressed in the preparation camp.

There are also notable returns for two WBBL competitors in the shape of Helen Naylor of Westfield Health Sheffield and Georgia Jones of Leicester Riders.

The team is headlined by the core of Olympians who stepped out at London 2012, including the likes of Azania Stewart, Chantelle Handy and Jo Leedham, who is back for the first time since EuroBasket Women Final Round in 2013.

The most notable absentee is the experienced Stef Collins, who will not travel due to an injury. and is staying in the UK to continue her rehabilitation.

Meanwhile Deanne Hayward of Leicester Riders will link-up with the squad on their return from Podgorica, ahead of next Wednesday’s game against Italy at the Amaechi Centre in Manchester.

The 12 player roster for Montenegro is as follows:

Dominique Allen (Flying Foxes Vienna, AUT)
Ella Clark (Gernika Bizkaia, ESP)
Chantelle Handy (PINKK Pesci 424, HUN)
Georgia Jones (Leicester Riders, GBR)
Eleanor Jones (Leicester Riders, GBR)
Johannah Leedham (Tango Bourges, FRA)
Helen Naylor (Westfield Health Sheffield Hatters, GBR)
Eilidh Simpson (CD Zamarat, ESP)
Azania Stewart (Campus Promete, ESP)
Jamila Thompson (Cref Hola, ESP)
Rachael Vanderwal (Gernika Bizkaia, ESP)
Savannah Wilkinson (Barking Abbey Crusaders, GBR)

Great Britain play Montenegro on Saturday at 7.15pm UK time.

Image Credit: GB Basketball

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