Netherlands history makers to arrive on a high

LANZAROTE (2015 FIBA U19 Women's World Championship) - Netherlands will be buoyed by having a number of history makers in their ranks when they arrive at the FIBA U19 Women's World Championship this week.

With the final roster for the event having been confirmed, the list will include several members who helped secure their country's first-ever top-flight European basketball medal over the weekend.

Netherlands beat Russia 63-51 in the Third-Place Game at the U20 European Championship Women and spark triumphant scenes of celebration on the Spanish island.

Now the party has died down, Emese Hof, Laura Cornelius, Fleur Kuijt, Charlotte van Kleef and Esther Fokke will all have to knuckle back down and focus on the task ahead in Russia.

Hof in particular showed some great form in Lanzarote and was named to the All-Star Five after registering an eye-catching 14.2 points and 7.2 rebounds per game.

There is also the additional importance of the center being on-song, with Netherlands not taking the athleticism of Janis Ndiba Boonstra with them to Chekhov and Vidnoe.

The quintet of players who left Spanish soil with a bronze medal around their necks also offer previous experience of competing at the FIBA U19 Women's World Championship.

All but Kuijt participated two years ago in Lithuania when Netherlands finished 10th, while Deborah Vos who also played at the 2013 version of the tournament is also back on board.

Meanwhile in terms of the younger players on the roster, all eyes will be on Laura Westerik.

She will make her global debut and having been sensational last year at the U16 European Championship Women, there are high hopes for the versatile star.

Netherlands play in Group A and test themselves against Argentina, Chinese Taipei and host nation, Russia.

Netherlands final roster for 2015 FIBA U19 Women's World Championship: Ella Bouman, Laura Cornelius, Myrthe den Heeten, Esther Fokke, Emese Hof, Noortje Joosten, Asa Kantebeen, Fleur Kuijt, Charlotte van Kleef, Marieke van Schie, Deborah Vos, Laura Westerik.

FIBA