ISLAMABAD, May 2: Wapda clinched the National Women’s Basketball Championship title when they defeated Higher Education Commission 51-31 in the final at the Sports Hall of the Bahria University here on Wednesday.

The third place playoff for the 16th edition of the tournament was played at the Hamidi Hall of the Pakistan Sports Complex earlier in the day with Islamabad beating Punjab 24-23 in another close encounter between the two sides.

The decider was more of a replay of an earlier Group A match between Wapda and HEC and the final result was almost the same. On that occasion Wapda had won 51-38, said a press release issued by the HEC.

Both teams fought hard in the first half with the defending champions collecting 13 points in the first quarter while HEC added nine. The second quarter was tied 6-6 as the teams went into the break with the scoreboard 19-15 in favour of Wapda.

Wapda dominated in the third quarter; scoring freely and defending stoutly to score 16 points while conceding just five.

Wapda’s Munazza Butt, who scored 16 points in the game, then sealed the fate of the match with another impressive performance in the fourth quarter.

Rubina Qaiser added 10 while Umme Laila and Fariha Khan helped in with nine and seven points respectively. Nayar Nasir led HEC’s spirited challenge, scoring eight points. Sana Mehmood (7) and Asma Akram (6) also had a good game.

Islamabad edged out Punjab by the slightest of margins to finish third in the tournament. The girls from the capital city were the runners-up of last year’s championship played in Lahore.

Like the tournament’s opening match between the two sides where Islamabad beat Punjab 13-12 in extra time, the third place playoff was also a keenly fought affair.

Sara Mehmood top-scored for Islamabad with 13 points while captain Roaa Tahir and Saqiba Arshad chipped in with four points each.

Almira Chaudhry was the highest scorer for Punjab with nine points. Samina Zulfiqar (5) and Hira Niazi (4) also played well.

Pakistan Basketball Federation President Asif Bajwa was the chief guest at the prize distribution ceremony.