Biggest EuroBasket Success
Since women’s basketball still lags behind in Germany, winning any kind of medal at Europe’s top level is an outstanding accomplishment. With Germany's all-time leading scorer Marlies Askamp in her prime, the squad had its big coming-out party at EuroBasket Women 1997 in Hungary. Led by Askamp's 18 point, 12-rebound performance, Germany beat the hosts 86-61 in front of 5,000 spectators and took the bronze medal, after losing by just one point to eventual champions Lithuania in the semi-finals. The bronze medal came as even more of a surprise considering Germany, just two years earlier, had failed to win a single game at EuroBasket Women in the Czech Republic. Askamp, who had two 30-plus point games and finished as the tournament's top rebounder at 12 per game, was named Most Valuable Player. The team also included co-stars such as Sophie von Saldern, Martina and Petra Kremer and Birgit Eggert but since their 1997 glory, Germany has never been able to match that kind of line-up.
Biggest EuroBasket Disaster
After missing the EuroBasket for 12 consecutive years, the German women had high expectations when they finally qualified for the final round in 1995. Starting the
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Linda Froehlich will lead Germany at EuroBasket Women.
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tournament with two close losses to France (69-65) and the Czech Republic (71-69), EuroBasket 1995 ended in a disaster as the team lost their final game to the tournament's runner-up Russia 97-72. Even with the help of the top rebounder Marlies Askamp (nine boards per game) the Germans didn’t win a single game and finished with the worst defense of all seven participants. As a result of the big disappointment in Brno, the team was rebuilt and won the bronze medal just two years later.
Best Individual Performance/Best Player of All-Time
The EuroBasket 1997 in Budapest was Marlies Askamp’s tournament. The 1.91 meter center finished as the event's Most Valuable Player, top rebounder (12.0 rpg) and fourth-best scorer (19.9 ppg). Askamp also holds the record for scoring in a single game. She tallied 33 points in a 92-88 victory over Ukraine and just three days later, topped her own record with 34 points in an 85-65 triumph over the Czech Republic. Askamp, who signed a contract with the New York Liberty of the WNBA just before EuroBasket 1997, won a WNBA title with the Los Angeles Sparks in 2002. She finished her National Team career in 2005 having worn the German jersey 190 times.
Scouting report
Under the leadership of new head coach Imare Szittay, who had served as an assistant coach since 2003, the German team structure will not change dramatically. The core of the group around top star Linda Froehlich has played together for the last four years and qualified for the second consecutive EuroBasket. Coach Szittay knows the strengths and weaknesses of his squad. Defensively the Germans struggle, but they can compete at the other end of the floor. Guard Anne Breitreiner, who played some EuroLeague Women minutes with Valencia this year, showed her offensive talent in the qualifying round with 15.2 points per game. Down low, all attention will be on Froehlich who collected 16.4 points and 9.0 rebounds per game at EuroBasket 2005. The team’s fitness will be key. When able to run, the team scores 10-15 more points than in their half court offense. Recruiting many of their players from the German DBBL - and its mediocre athletic level - the National Team has to work hard to reach the physical standard needed for the up-tempo style Szittay has in mind.
Prediction
Playing in Group B without any clear favourite, the minimum goal of finishing better than last sounds realistic. But even the quarter-finals are not too unreasonable for the young Germans. Health and fitness will be key.
Likely Squad
The core of the squad who played in the qualifying round will travel to Italy. But don’t be surprised if coach Szittay adds a couple of players from U.S. colleges - possibly center Katja Bavendam (St. Francis College, 2.03 m) or shooting guard Andrea Glasauer (Northwestern, 1.85 m).
Last 10 FIBA events
Year Event Place Achievement
2006 World Championship Sao Paolo Did not qualify
2005 EuroBasket Ankara 11th
2004 Olympics Athens Did not qualify
2003 EuroBasket Patras Did not qualify
2002 World Championship Nanjing Did not qualify
2001 EuroBasket Le Mans Did not qualify
2000 Olympics Sydney Did not qualify
1999 EuroBasket Katowice Did not qualify
1998 World Championship Berlin 11th
1997 EuroBasket Budapest Bronze Medal
How did they qualify?
Qualifying round
2nd in Group C (4 W – 2 L)
Results
Date Game Result
Sept-6th 2006 *Germany b. Poland 71-57
Sept-9th 2006 Germany b. *Sweden 68-62
Sept-13th 2006 Germany b. *Croatia 72-61
Sept-16th 2006 *Poland b. Germany 65-56
Sept-20th 2006 *Germany b. Sweden 63-37
Sept-23rd 2006 Croatia b. *Germany 57-49
* home team
