The Associated Press

SOUTH BEND, Ind. - Middle Tennessee State didn't play a lot better than North Carolina.

They played a lot harder, though, and it was enough to pull off the upset Sunday in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

"They kept us off guard," North Carolina coach Sylvia Hatchell said. "We played Carolina basketball about four minutes. For that four-minute span we were aggressive and taking the ball to the basket and getting at them defensively. They just outplayed us."

The Lady Raiders (24-7) led 60-48 with 6:30 left, but Jessica Bell scored a pair of rebound baskets to spark a 10-0 run by the Tar Heels (24-7). Fourth-seeded North Carolina cut the lead to 60-58 when Kenya McBee hit two free throws with 3:44 left.

North Carolina had a chance to tie the score at 64, but 6-foot-6 center Candace Sutton missed from underneath. Keisha McClinic hit a free throw to give the Lady Raiders a three-point lead. Ivory Latta then missed a 17-footer for North Carolina and Bell failed on a 3-pointer as the Tar Heels were 0-of-13 on 3-pointers.

Patrice Holmes, who led Middle Tennessee with 18 points, then made a pair of clinching foul shots for Middle Tennessee State, which was 14-of-15 from the line.

This was just the second NCAA Tournament victory in nine attempts for the 13th-seeded Lady Raiders, who play Tuesday against Notre Dame (20-10).

North Carolina lost in the first round of the Tournament for the first time since 1985.

But Middle Tennessee coach Stephany Smith never doubted the Lady Raiders could win.

"My entire staff sincerely believed we could win this game," she said. "We were selling it to our team. We showed them film. We showed them ways and told them what's most important. But you never know as a coach if they are buying it or not."

McClinic, who had 13 points and nine rebounds, said the Lady Raiders never doubted they could win, not even during North Carolina's 10-0 run.

"Our coaches always tell us the game is full of runs and they made their run. It was time for us to make our run. We just continued to play our ball and not settle down to theirs," she said. "We just got back into the game. From there, we knew in our minds we just had to stay with them."

Notre Dame 69, SW Missouri St. 65, OT

SOUTH BEND, Ind. - Courtney LaVere scored four of her 11 points in overtime and made a key block, helping fifth-seeded Notre Dame escape in overtime against Southwest Missouri State.

The Irish (20-10) improved to 14-0 on their home court.

Jacqueline Batteast led the Irish with 17 points and 11 rebounds.

Jenni Lingor and Kari Koch had 15 points each for the Lady Bears (28-4).

Penn St. 79, Hampton 42

BLACKSBURG, Va. - Kelly Mazzante scored 18 points, and Tanisha Wright added 16 for top-seeded Penn State.

The Lady Lions (26-5) advanced to what promises to be a more difficult test in the second round, playing eighth-seeded Virginia Tech on its home court. Lynetta Sullivan led Hampton (17-13) with eight points. The Lady Pirates shot 16-for-60 (26.7 percent).

Virginia Tech 89, Iowa 76

BLACKSBURG, Va. - Ieva Kublina had 26 points and four blocks, and Carrie Mason added 19 points for Virginia Tech.

The Hokies (23-7), making their seventh NCAA appearance and fifth in seven years under coach Bonnie Henrickson, advanced to the second round for the fifth straight year.

Jennie Lillis led Iowa (16-13) with 22 points.

Auburn 79, North Carolina St. 59

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. - Natasha Brackett scored 26 points on 10-of-16 shooting to lead seventh-seeded Auburn.

Mandisa Stevenson added 18 points and 10 rebounds for the Tigers (22-8), who advanced to play the Connecticut-Pennsylvania winner. Rachel Stockdale had 15 points for the Wolfpack (17-15).