JACKSON, Tenn. – Breezy Martin scored on a running basket in the lane with 28 seconds left to lift Oklahoma City University to a 74-72 victory over Bethel (Tenn.) on Wednesday at Oman Arena in the first round of the NAIA Division I women's basketball tournament.

The 12th-ranked and third-seeded Stars (29-5) rallied from 13 points down to stay alive. OCU advanced to a second-round tournament game against Saint Xavier (Ill.) at 9 a.m. Friday at Oman Arena.

Bethel had two opportunities to answer Martin's layup, but Tristan Johnson missed with seven seconds left. Laura Duncan rebounded and drew a foul, but Duncan missed two free throws. Joanna Ortiz missed on a drive to the basket as time ran out.

Down 67-58, OCU responded with a 10-0 run to take the lead. Holly Hardin made two free throws to begin the rally, then Chelsea Ledbetter scored in the paint.

Hardin stuck a putback and added two free throws. Then with 3:41 left, Hardin put OCU on top 68-67 with a lay-in. During the Stars' run, Bethel went scoreless for 4:16 and missed four shot attempts from the field.

Hardin, a junior from Chickasha, Okla., led the Stars with 24 points, 14 rebounds and three steals. Ledbetter, a senior from Norman, Okla., added 16 points and five assists, and Chontaye Walter had 15 points, four rebounds, four assists and two steals. Martin chipped in 10 points and seven rebounds.

After Hardin's basket, Bethel took the lead back and were up 71-68 on Anna Trull's basket with 2:47 left in the game. Kashundria Berry hit a free throw put Bethel ahead 72-70 with 2:08 remaining.

Hardin tied the game 72-72 on a layup with 1:02 left.

OCU shot 50 percent from the field in the second half after hitting only 35.7 in the first. Bethel hit 57.1 percent of its shots in the first half, then managed only 28.6 percent shooting in the second.
The Stars had a 40-33 rebounding edge.
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