Having lost 66-55 to the Czech Republic on Wednesday, Vanderwal admits there were lessons to be taken for her side: "We had two very good wins in the first round and we had to carry that momentum into the second round. We played well in those first two games (against Serbia and Latvia) but now we've moved on, the competition's only going to get better from here on in. But we expect that.
"The Czechs hit shots. They made the plays when it counted. They've a very experienced team. But we just have to go into practice and learn from what we did wrong; how to come off screens and how to defend that. They hit a lot of threes the pick-and-pop was a big problem for us but we just have to get better."
Belarus entered the tournament among the favourites although they come off a surprise loss to Serbia in their own Group F opener. However, they have already defeated GB twice this summer with the two sides meeting previously in a pair of warm-up games held in Lithuania last month.
GB player, Kim Butler commented: "We played them in matches early on and did pretty well. They've added Anastasiya Verameyenka since then and she's a great player. They've got a lot of height but that doesn't scare us, most teams are bigger than us.
"We'll just go and deal with that. We want to get back to playing GB basketball."
Vanderwal's performances will not only be closely followed in the UK but also in her adopted homeland of Ireland, where she has spent the last six years. A player for the University of Limerick club, she is also a PE teacher in a secondary school in Cork where, she reveals, her pupils experience of watching her in action both in France and at last summer's Olympics made her job all the easier: "They're brilliant," she said. "It was amazing for them, being able to watch it and knowing someone involved. They loved it.
"That's what it's all about. When I was growing up, I had role models. We're still trying to inspire a generation. If they can watch me and see us enjoying ourselves and playing good basketball, then that's what it's all about."
GB forward Ella Clark sustained an ankle sprain in Wednesday's game against the Czechs and will continue to be evaluated by British Basketball's medical staff.
Friday's other games in Group F see Croatia face Serbia and unbeaten France take on the Czech Republic. A minute of silence will be observed following the sudden death, on Wednesday, of FIBA Europe's president Olafur Rafnsson, aged 50.
