North Harbour have defeated Waikato 70-59 in the women's national basketball final in Auckland.
North Harbour are the 2020 NZ women's basketball champions. Photo: © Copyright Shane Wenzlick 2020 / www.photosport.nz / Photosport Ltd
Harbour, runners-up in 2019, went one better in 2020 as they completed their unbeaten seven-game campaign.
Waikato were left to rue a slow start where they scored just seven points in the first quarter.
Eleven points down at three-quarter time, it looked as if they might complete a memorable comeback when they closed to within three points with six minutes to play.
However, led by captain Ash Kelman-Poto, who posted 18 points, 14 rebounds and six steals, North Harbour held firm in the closing minutes.
The winning skipper deservedly won the Grand-Final MVP Award.
