(Beijing, April 26) Host China held off USA 84-81 to win the final of the "Good Luck Beijing" CNPC 2008 Women's Basketball International Invitational Tournament this evening.

In their last round robin game, USA had halted China's four-game winning streak 86-61 with both teams finishing with 4W-1L.

Miao Lijie poured in a game-high of 26 points, including two 3-pointers, while Chen Nan contributed 15 and Chen Xiaoxu added 12 in the win for China.

Four US players reached double figures as Katie Smith led the team with 16 points.

USA outrebounded China 42-26 and both teams made 54 points from the field. It was China, who hit one more 3-pointer in the match earning the gold.

China was up 47-39 at half time, but was overcome 63-61 after the third quarter. The match turned fiercer in the fourth quarter and China regained its lead on Miao Lijie and Liu Dan's long-range shootings with five minutes remaining. The host managed its lead for good to win the title, 84-81.

China ended with 5W-1L in the tournament. The strong presence inside and the competitive outside composed of Miao Lijie and Bian Lan helps China's head coach Tom Maher being more optimistic in leading China's team to get a medal in the Olympic Games.

Unexpectedly beaten by the host and finishing 4W-2L, USA is still favored to grab its fifth Olympic gold medal for women's basketball in the upcoming Olympic Games.

In the match vying for the bronze medal, Emma Randall posted nearly a double-double with 15 points and 9 rebounds as the Aussies upset the Cubans 65-61 for the third place.

Tully Bevilaqua notched 13 in the win for Australia, who made 5 out of 11 from the arc today.

Yulizeny Soria Baro led Cuba with 17 points. Suchitel Avila Cazanas poured in 12 and Yayma Boulet Peillon had 8 points and thirteen rebounds in the defeat.

The Australians dominated the first three quarters as they led 26-10, 44-25, 55-47 after the three periods.

Cuba's full-court press brought trouble to Australia, who was kept up within one point five minutes into the fourth quarter. Tully Bevilaqua was fouled with 10 seconds to go. She hit the ensuing free throws to lift Australia to a 65-61 victory.

With the low field goal percentage and a high number of turnovers, Australia's rookies are exposed to the more physical international teams. The 3W-3L record for sure cannot satisfy the current world champion of the women's basketball.

Cuba ended 3W-3L in the series and the low shooting percentage may be the Achilles' heel for Cuba to compete in the upcoming Olympic qualifiers.

In the fifth-place decider, The Korean players made five 3-pointers in the fourth quarter to overcome New Zealand 70-67.

Beon Yeon Ha scored 13 points in the win. Park Jung Eun had 12 while Choi Youn Ah and Kim Kwe Ryong each added 11 for Korea, who snapped its three defeats in a row.

Jilian Harmon connected on a game-high of 20 points in the loss. Two other New Zealand's players reached double figures: Lisa Wallbutton and Angela Marino, 14 and 10 respectively.

New Zealand outrebounded Korea 47-33, but had 23 turnovers in the match, compared to 13 by Korea.

Korea fell 53-42 after three periods, but then set up a counterattack on Park Jung Eun's 3-pointer in the fourth quarter as they hit five from the arc to overcome with twelve seconds remaining. Angela Marino missed a three and New Zealand lost the match 70-67.

For Korea, who finished with 1W-5L, more stable outside shooting and a high center are expected to forge a stronger Korean team in the upcoming Olympic Games.

New Zealand, also on a 1W-5L record, though working hard and showing fully their sportsmanship on the court, has to be content with the sixth place due to its young line-up and weakness in both speed and height.

As the eight-day tournament came to an end, the venue operation and competition management by the event organizing committee and their preparations for the Beijing Olympics were praised by the FIBA top officials.

While addressing the draw ceremony for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Basketball tournament this evening, Bob Elphinston, President of the International Basketball Federation, expressed his appreciation to the organizers for the excellent job they had done for the event and added he believes Beijing would present the best Olympic basketball tournament ever.