Hana OneQ misses a chance to get its first win of the season.
Bucheon Hana OneQ lost its first game of the season against Yongin Samsung Life in the Woori Bank Woori WON 2023-2024 Women’s Professional Basketball League 66-67 in a close game at 토토 Yongin Gymnasium on Saturday.
Yang In-young led the way with 22 points, seven rebounds, and five assists, Shin Ji-hyun had 16 points, three rebounds, and four assists, and Kim Anna had 13 points, 14 rebounds, and four assists. Kim Ji-na, playing her first regular season game in a Hana OneQ uniform, finished with six points, four rebounds, and three assists, but was injured.
Hana OneQ took a comfortable 36-28 lead into halftime, but struggled against a resurgent Samsung Life Insurance in the third quarter. They eventually gave up the lead and battled back and forth in the fourth quarter, but were unable to stop Shin’s layup with three seconds left in the fourth quarter, 66-65.
After the game, Coach Kim Do-wan said, “We played hard, but the result was disappointing. I think the players only shot about 50 percent of what they usually do. I wanted them to be a little more selfish and aggressive, but because it was the first game and they were nervous, they didn’t play the way they usually do.”
“The rest of the team had been working through the offseason basics, but the guys who had been on the national team had been away for a long time. I could see the fatigue building up quickly. We had them play the whole game, but I could feel their energy dropping in the second quarter,” he said.
The Hana WonQ has also been labeled as one of the worst teams this season. Even with the addition of veteran Kim Jong-un, it’s hard for one player to make a difference. The entire squad needs to change. “We have to change our thoughts and mindset to work hard to lose weight,” Kim said. Without mental strength, we can’t get out of last place. The players seem to be less hungry. I am very angry about this. I hope that the defeat will be the medicine.”
