MTSU WINS OVC WOMEN'S CROWN

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Carlita Elder gave Middle Tennessee State the lead for good with two free throws and then tipped away a Tennessee-Martin pass Sunday night to lift the Lady Blue Raiders to a 59-58 victory in the championship game of the Ohio Valley Conference women's basketball tournament.

Elder gave Middle Tennessee (18-11) a 57-55 lead with 2:23 left to play and then tipped Becky Crowe's in-bounds pass to teammate Tamika Smith, who dribbled out the final 7.7 seconds.

It's the first OVC Tournament championship for Middle Tennessee since 1988. The win sends the Lady Blue Raiders and first-year head coach Stephany Smith to the NCAA Tournament.

Middle Tennessee, which was 10-20 last year, knocked off top-seeded Eastern Kentucky in the semifinal round.

Tennessee-Martin tied the game 55-55 with 3:40 to play on a free throw by Tessa Fields before Elder hit her two free throws.

Joanna Aluka then hit a jumper with 1:10 left to push the Middle Tennessee lead to 59-55.

Martin pulled withing 59-56 on a free throw by Chastity Bohannan with 52 seconds to play and cut its deficit to 59-58 on a jumper by Beth Wheeler with 36 seconds remaining.

Tournament MVP Bama Burrell topped Middle Tennessee State with 10 points.

Martin's Tessa Feilds led all scorers with 17 points and Nicholoe Lockridge added 15.