Beon Yeonha scored six 3-pointers and collected 24 points to lead South Korea to a 93-78 victory over Japan in the women's basketball semifinals at the Asian Games here on Wednesday.

South Korea, who edged Japan by one point in the World Championship last month, took the lead early but never more than seven points ahead before they finished the first half 41-34.

Opening the second half with a 7-2 run, South Korea, fourth place finisher behind silver medalists Japan in Doha four years ago, expanded the lead to 68-54, capped by Lee Kyungeun's jumper with two minutes remaining in the third quarter,

It was a 61-71 down entering the fourth quarter, Japan, which ranked 10th the World Championship, made an 11-6 spurt as Ai Mitani hit a 3-pointer to trim the deficit to 72-77.

After trading baskets several times, South Korea used a 13-6 spurt to put their lead up to 90-78 with two minutes left. During that charge, 2.02-meter Ha Eunjoo, who countributed 10 of her 19 points in the fourth, scored six points. Japan collapsed since.

South Korea hit 11 3-pointers with 28 attempts, compared with Japan's 3-for-14. The Korean also outrebounded the Japanese 41-22.

Lee Kyungeun got 13 points including three 3-pointers for South Korea, which also got 10 points from Jung Sun Hwa.

Oga Yuko finished a game-high 26 points for Japan. Mamiya Juka came off the bench to contribute 18 points for the Japanese, who had to settle for third with the loser between China and Chinese Taipei in another semis late Wednesday night.

(Xinhua News Agency November 25, 2010)