INDEPENDENCE, Mo. – (Box Score | Bracket) Undoubtedly the largest upset in day one of first round action at the 2016 NAIA Division I Women’s Basketball National Championship came in game No. 7, as No. 8 Cumberland (Tenn.) upended No. 1 Bethel (Tenn.), 56-51, Wednesday night at Silverstein Eye Centers Arena.

With the win, the Phoenix (18-11) advance to the second round for the fourth time in seven championship appearances and first since reaching the semifinals in 2013. Additionally, Cumberland is the first No. 8 seed – fifth since the format was established in 2003 – since Avila (Mo.) downed Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.), 84-82, in double overtime in 2012.

“We made them play to our tempo,” said Cumberland head coach Jeremy Lewis. “I thought the big deal was going to be tempo. Some of the games that we play in our league are grind it out and turn into half court possession games – much like tonight’s. I feel like this is the first time in seven-or-eight years that you can throw the seeds out the door, because there are so many evenly matched teams. It’s going to make for an exciting tournament.”

Cumberland’s primary advantage in the game came at the foul line, as the Phoenix outscored Bethel 14-5 at the charity stripe. Cumberland was a perfect 5-for-5 in the second half.

Cumberland’s Nicole Bowers continued her hot streak, scoring a season-high tying 21 points on 6-of-11 shooting and a 9-for-10 effort at the free throw line. The junior forward added a game-high 11 rebounds to record her eighth double-double of the season. In her last four games, Bowers is averaging 19 points and 8.5 rebounds per game.

Bre Neal and Jalita Fason also had strong performances for Cumberland. Neal tallied 12 points, eight rebounds and three assists, while Fason tallied 12 points, three assists and two steals.

As a team, Cumberland shot 37.7 percent (20-for-53) from the field, including a 44.4 percent (12-for-27) mark in the third and fourth quarter.

It was a one possession game until the 6:05 mark of the second quarter when Martessia Williams hit a jumper in the paint to make it 24-17 in favor of the Wildcats. A 3-pointer by Jackliann Street approximately 90 seconds later pushed the lead to eight points, however Cumberland refused to roll over. The Phoenix scored the final five points of the period to make it a 3-point game, 29-26, at the break.

Cumberland took its first lead since the 0:53 mark of the first quarter when Fason connected on a 3-pointer to give the Phoenix a 31-29 edge. This proved to be the final lead change of the night, as Cumberland kept Bethel at arm’s length the rest of the way.

Bethel (26-7) received a strong effort from Martessia Williams, who led the squad with 15 points. The junior guard from Hopkinsville, Ky., ended the night 7-for-14 from the field in nearly 32 minutes of action.

With the loss, Bethel fails to advance out of the first round since 2013. The Wildcats have appeared in the national championship seven times and own a 6-7 record.

For more information on the national championship, click here.