The women's handball team of Thüringer HC ended the Bundesliga first half with a home win. The team of Head Coach Herbert Müller defeated its neighbors in the table, HSG Bensheim/Auerbach, by 36:33 (16:18). In front of 1,333 spectators, Kelly de Abreu Rosa was the Thuringians' best scorer with nine goals as they gained revenge for their 34:36 defeat on seven penalties in the cup semi-final three weeks earlier. In fourth place (27:13 points), the THC will now face the main round winners HSG Blomberg-Lippe in the playoff semi-finals.
The Thuringians, who were once again without their top scorer Johanna Reichert, who was out with an injury, initially found it very difficult to break down the visitors' 5:1 defense and repeatedly failed to score against goalkeeper Helen van Beurden. Bensheim led 7:3 after ten minutes, but a timeout by Müller then served as a wake-up call for the home side, who stepped up the pace considerably from then on and closed the gap to two goals by the break.
After the break, both teams produced a furious exchange of blows. THC took a two-goal lead in the 50th minute (31:29). Bensheim countered with a 3:0 run, but the home side showed the greater will to win in the final phase.
