TAURANGA (2015 FIBA Oceania U16 Women's Championship) - Australia survived a withering three-quarter New Zealand challenge to take the title at the FIBA Oceania U16 Women's Championship with a 75-54 Final win.

With Australia holding a slender one-point lead at the end of the third quarter, athletic centre Eziyoda Magbegor lifted her team onto her shoulders, scoring four straight baskets and denying multiple New Zealand drives at the other end.

"I think she's got an unbelievably bright future, super athlete, she's got really good touch and I think she's going to get better and better and better over the next few years," Sapphires coach Shannon Seebohm said.

"It's really exciting to think where she could end up as a basketballer."

Magbegor finished with 23 points, 16 rebounds and five blocks, while reserve point guard Jazmin Shelley was the pilot of the Sapphires' win with 16 points and 5 steals.

For New Zealand, guard Tiarna Clarke (16 points) almost willed her team to an upset with her energy and class in the opening three quarters, Charlisse Leger-Walker also impressive with 16 points, 7 rebounds and 4 steals.

New Zealand came out breathing fire early, Clarke proving a handful as the hosts skipped 5-2 ahead.

Point guard Abby Cubillo (14 points) picked up the pace for Australia, and their aggressive defense turned the game as they pinched a 16-11 edge after 10 minutes.

That lead jumped out to seven, but a trifecta of triples from Clarke and Sapphire Wairau had the Kiwis back in front.

Shelley was inserted into the game and her relentless defense and precision passing guided the Australians to a 27-25 half-time lead.

The third quarter was a stunner, with Clarke and Magbegor trading tough buckets, Shelley picking pockets with her deft touch and Leger-Walker attacking the heart of the Aussie defense with determination.

When the dust settled Australia led by the narrowest margin thanks to a pair of Shelley baskets in the final minute.

Magbegor then imposed her will early in the final term, dominating her smaller opponents with counterpart Coola Baudry on the bench in foul trouble.

In a blink of the eye the Australian lead reached double figures, and with Cubillo stifling Clarke the tired Kiwis simply couldn't find a response. 

"Depth is always great if you've got it, and we addressed that at half-time, we said they'd expended a lot of energy to get to that point," Seebohm said.

"We just needed to keep playing our game, keep running it down their throat each time and making them work."

FIBA