March 15, 2006

JACKSON, Tenn. - Sixth-seeded Montana State University-Northern defeated third-seeded Oklahoma Christian University 82-68 to advance to the second round of the 26th annual NAIA Division I Women's Basketball National Championship at Oman Arena.

Both teams swapped leads seven times, before MSNU went up for the final change of the game 17-16 with 12 minutes to play in the first period. They went on to shoot 64 percent in the first period to take a 50-31 lead into the locker room. OCU cut the lead to three points (55-52) with 11:24 to play but that was the closest they could come to playing another day, as their four year run of making it out of the first round came to an end.

Jaci Heny led Montana State-Northern with 27 points, including four 3-point baskets, while Camille Gardner collected 19 points and seven assists. DeLayne Johnston added a double-double 15 points and 12 rebounds.

Oklahoma Christian was led by Lauren Decker's 24 points, while Rachel Martin followed with 16 points. Tasha Turney added 13 points.

Montana State-Northern improves to 20-9 on the season and advances to the second round on Friday at 4:30 p.m. to face second-seeded The Master's (Calif.)/seventh-seeded Auburn University-Montgomery (Ala.).