Forward Yuka Watanabe's three-pointer with one minute remaining
gave Japan a narrow 74-70 win over South Korea and the bronze medal
at the Asian Games women's basketball tournament on Thursday.
Japan, the champion of the Bangkok Asiad in 1998, established
a61-54 lead with a 7-0 run at the end of the third quarter, but
wasted by South Korea 70-70 with less than three minutes to go.
Watanabe, 25, then hit a three-pointer before Kumiko Yamada
added a free throw to seal the victory.
Japan's Ryoko Utsumi scored on eight of ten two-pointers and two
of four three-pointers for 24 points to lead all scorers.
Beon Yeon Ha led the South Koreans in scoring with 22
points.
(Xinhua News Agency December 15, 2006)