SAMUELSON BACK FOR BELARUS - Hoopsfix.com

SAMUELSON BACK FOR BELARUS

Karlie Samuelson returns for Great Britain for next week’s vital EuroBasket Women qualifier with Belarus.

With a win at a neutral site in Riga likely to send to send GB into June’s finals, the Spanish-based guard is one of three changes to the squad from last October’s win over Poland in Istanbul with Chantel Charles back after illness and Shequila Joseph, who also plays in Spain for Leganes, earning a first senior call-up.

Kristine Anigwe is named in the squad for a third time, while trio Hannah Robb, Evelyn Adebayo and Renee Busch all feature for the second consecutive window.

Veteran Chantelle Handy is back for cap 134 while Nicolette Fong Lyew Quee, Hannah Shaw and Sam Roscoe drop out as GB bid to avenge their 90-59 loss to the Belarussians in Manchester in November 2019.

“Belarus is a very good team, but we can beat them if we play with determination and wisdom,” said GB coach Chema Buceta.

“We need to win this game to qualify for Eurobasket, and to do so, we have to trust our strengths as a team that helped us to beat top teams in the past.

“We will need to play a very good team defence, and I believe that the players selected are the ones who can do this at the high level that this game will require.

“This season is very odd, with many interruptions and lack of continuity for most of our players, but I believe that despite that our team will be ready for this big challenge.”

GB Women roster

Evelyn Adebayo – Pacisa Alcobendas (Spain)
Kristine Anigwe – ÇBK Mersin Yenişehir Belediyesi (Turkey)
Renee Busch – Sevenoaks Suns
Chantel Charles – BA London Lions
Temi Fagbenle – Umana Reyer Venezia (Italy)
Cheridene Green – Gorzow (Poland)
Chantelle Handy – Casademont Zaragoza (Spain)
Shequila Joseph – Laboratorios Ynsadiet Leganes (Spain)
Janice Monakana – Sevenoaks Suns
Hannah Robb – Leicester Riders
Karlie Samuelson – Perfumerias Avenida (Spain)
Eilidh Simpson – SV Halle (Germany)