The SK Sugar Gliders of the Handball H League Women’s Division are on track to consolidate their top spot in the league, led by the ‘strong sister’ duo of Kang Kyung-min (28) and Kang Eun-hye (28).
SK defeated second-place Gyeongnam Development Corporation 25-21 in the fourth game of the third round of the Handball H League Women’s Division of the Shinhan SOL Pay 2023-2024 season at Gijang Gymnasium in Busan on Monday.
SK finished the first half trailing by one point, 10-11. The second half was just as close. However, SK, which had gone unbeaten in nine consecutive games prior to this match, seemed to be on a roll, scoring back-to-back goals from Kang Kyung-min, Yoo So-jung (28), and Kang Eun-hye to take a 20-17 lead with just over 10 minutes left in the second half. It was a moment that turned the tense game around.
SK had seven goals from Kang Kyung-min, six from Kang Eun-hye, and three from Yoo So-jung, with players born in 1996 combining for more than half of the team’s goals on the day. Goalkeeper Lee Min-ji (24), 카지노사이트 who recorded 12 saves with a high save percentage (36.4%), was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the match. For Gyeongnam Development Corporation, Lee Yeon-kyung (33) and Kim Sora (26) combined for six goals apiece, but it wasn’t enough to prevent the loss.
With the victory in the head-to-head battle for the top of the league, SK increased its points tally to 32 (15 W, 2 D, 1 L) and widened its lead over second-place Gyeongnam Development Corporation (28-13 W, 2 D, 3 L) to four points. Both teams have three games remaining. SK needs just two more points in their remaining matches to clinch the league title. SK has a 2-1 head-to-head record against Gyeongnam Development Corporation this season, so even if they finish with the same number of points, they will automatically move ahead in the race.
“The game went well as Lee Min-ji made a good save in the second half,” said SK head coach Kim Kyung-jin, “and we will prepare to win all three remaining matches.”
In the men’s game, Chungnam Provincial Government defeated third-ranked Hanam City Hall 27-26, led by 10-goaler Oh Hwangje (26). Hanam City Hall ended its five-game winning streak, while Chungnam Province moved up to fifth place with 8 points (4W17L). In last place (6th) is Sangmu Phoenix (7-3 W-1 D-16 L), which has played one game less.
