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| Choi Ji-hye / Photo provided by the Korea Handball Federation |
The SK Sugar Gliders defeated Busan Facilities Corporation 26-25 in the Shinhan SOL Bank 25-26 Handball H League women's match at Samcheok Civic Gymnasium in Samcheok, Gangwon Province, on the 2nd at 8 p.m.
With the victory, SK improved to 18-0 (36 points), leaving them three games shy of completing a perfect season. Busan Facilities Corporation, the only team to beat SK last season, remained third with a 9-3-6 record (21 points).
The opening half quickly became a duel between SK's Choi Ji-hye and Busan's Kwon Han-na. Over the first 10 minutes, both players scored five goals, and the score was tied 5-5. Choi pushed SK ahead with another goal to make it 7-5, and Kang Eun-hye added consecutive strikes to extend the lead to 9-5. SK then committed a series of turnovers, allowing Busan to close to 9-8 on back-to-back goals from Ryu Eun-hee.
Backed by goalkeeper Kim Su-yeon's saves, Busan rattled off three straight goals to take an 11-10 lead. Choi responded to keep SK in it, and the teams went into halftime tied at 13-13. Choi finished the first half with nine goals, moving to the top of the scoring chart.
Early in the second half, Busan turned the ball over on four consecutive possessions, while SK steadily added goals to open a 17-13 lead.
Busan's continued mistakes kept them from closing the gap. Kim Su-yeon stopped Choi's seven-meter attempt, helping Busan push to 19-17 and creating a chance to get within one, but another turnover squandered that opportunity.
SK made mistakes as well, but Busan failed to capitalize. Song Ji-eun's consecutive goals pushed SK back out to a 22-18 advantage.
The momentum shifted when Kim Su-yeon produced another big save. Busan answered with fast breaks by Yeon Eun-young and Jung Ga-hee to cut it to 22-21, and Kwon Han-na converted consecutive seven-meter throws to knot the score at 24-24.
In the end, late turnovers cost Busan, and SK closed out the match 26-25.
[Sports Today reporter Shin Seo-young sports@stoo.com]
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