A 26-point explosion from Saki Mizushima helped carry Japan past Australia in the final of the inaugural FIBA Women's Asia Cup on Saturday.
Mizushima had been a non-factor through most of the tournament played in Bangalore, India, but her scoring punch proved the difference in allowing Japan to defend its Asian title, 74-73.
The 26-year-old shooting guard shot 8-for-13 from the floor, including a 7-for-9 from deep, but her most important basket came with 86 seconds to play when she made a three-pointer to break a 71-71 deadlock.