First win for A2 women: an overwhelming 81:40 against Taipei!

First win for A2 women: an overwhelming 81:40 against Taipei!

While the Cologne basketball fans continue to eagerly follow the developments in the FISU, the A2 women had a happy result to report today: they won their last group game against Chinese Taipei with 81:40. This represents their first win in the group stage after unfortunately coming away empty-handed in the first two games, as the Basketball-Bund reports.

Head coach Stefan Möller and his team were visibly relieved. Despite the absence of the ailing Nichole Brochlitz, the girls managed to overcome their initial nervousness. The starting line-up, consisting of Greta Kröger, Franka Wittenberg, Nina Rosemeyer, Merit Brennecke and Eléa Gaba, started like the fire department. After just two minutes they were already leading 6-0, with Franka Wittenberg scoring the first points.

Dominance from the start

The German defense didn't allow any points in the first few minutes and it quickly became apparent that the team was well positioned. Kröger increased the lead to 10:0, and even when Taipei scored its first points, Germany remained dominant and extended the lead to 47:17 in the first half. In the first quarter they were already leading 44:15, which was a real treat for the spectators.

As the game continued, Germany presented itself as the more determined team. Above all, the patience in the game and the high hit rate were remarkable - a trademark of this team in this crucial game. “We played significantly better than in the previous game against Poland and the players made great decisions,” said Möller happily after the game.

Placement games in focus

Although the victory is pleasing, it still means that Möller's team will not reach the quarter-finals. Instead, they are now focusing on the upcoming placement games. The team will have to prove itself in these encounters in order to end the tournament on a positive note.

Parallel to the basketball games, preparations are also underway for the upcoming swimming competitions in the region, as can be found on the Rhine Ruhr 2025 website. The swimmers' competition schedule is packed with exciting events, including the 400m freestyle and 200m backstroke finals. There are certainly many exciting stories to be told about the fascinating competitions, also for the fans in Cologne!

Cheers to the team spirit and the first well-deserved victory of the A2 women – now it’s time to “keep it up” and be prepared for the next challenges in the tournament!