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)