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| Jeong Ye-rim / Photo: WKBL |
Hana Bank defeated Yongin Samsung Life 61-56 in Game 1 of the 2025-2026 BNK Financial Women's Pro Basketball League playoffs at Bucheon Gymnasium on the 9th.
The win puts Hana Bank in a strong position to reach the championship series. Historically, teams that win Game 1 in the playoffs have advanced to the finals 83.3% of the time (45/54).
Jeong Ye-rim led Hana Bank with a game-high 16 points. Jin An added 12 and Park Jin-young scored 10; Park So-hee contributed 9. Saki Iijima collected 12 rebounds and six points.
For Samsung Life, Lee Hae-ran posted a double-double with 15 points and 13 rebounds, but the effort fell short.
Hana Bank closed the first quarter up 18-10.
Samsung Life rallied in the second quarter and cut the deficit to 29-31 by halftime.
The third quarter remained tight. Kang Yoo-rim opened the period with a basket to tie the game at 31-31.
After that the teams traded baskets. Samsung Life pushed the pace behind Lee Hae-ran and Lee Joo-yeon, while Hana Bank stayed within striking distance as Jeong hit two 3-pointers. Hana Bank led 47-46 at the end of the third quarter.
Hana Bank seized control in the fourth. Park Jin-young scored in the paint and Park So-hee hit from outside; the pair combined for nine straight points early in the quarter, extending the lead to 56-46 and creating a double-digit margin.
Samsung Life's first points of the fourth came on Kang Yoo-rim's basket with 4 minutes, 30 seconds remaining, but they were unable to mount a sustained comeback. With 2:18 left, Park Jin-young drained a 3-pointer that effectively sealed the game.
[Sports Today reporter Shin Se-young sports@stoo.com]
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