Charlena Martin made the go-ahead layup in traffic with 21.5 seconds left and iced things with a pair of free throws to help High Point's women's basketball team claim a 65-62 overtime victory over UNC Asheville Saturday afternoon in a regionally-televised Big South Conference women's basketball game in the Millis Center.

The Panthers (8-9, 3-1 Big South) have won four of their last five games, and moved into sole possession of second place in the Conference. UNC Asheville (10-7, 3-2) lost for just the second time in its last eight contests.

Martin led HPU with 17 points, while Katie O'Dell (13 points) and Candyce Sellars (10 points) also reached double-figures for the Panthers, who forced 27 Bulldog turnovers.

The Bulldogs got a game-high 20 points and 10 rebounds from Kristal Hood. Amanda Elder added 16 points for UNCA.

High Point jumped out to an 18-8 lead after Chan Ingram drained a three-pointer at the 10:35 mark, but the Bulldogs scored 15 of the next 21 points to get within 24-23 with 2:34 to play before halftime.

UNCA took its only lead of the half on a layup by Ashton Barton with eight seconds to go and grabbed a 27-26 halftime advantage.

Asheville led by as many as eight points (at 52-44 with 6:50 left in the second half following a Hood jumper), but the Panthers used a 10-0 run to surge in front, 54-52, on a Martin layup. The Bulldogs scored the next five points and led 57-54 with 2:23 to play in regulation, but HPU got a tip-in by O'Dell with 42.2 seconds left to pull within 57-56.

The Bulldogs missed a layup at the other end, and HPU's Katie Ralls was fouled with 11.3 seconds left. She made the first free throw to knot the score at 57-57, but missed the second. UNCA's Lindsey Roche corralled the rebound and the Bulldogs called timeout to set up a final chance to win the game in regulation, but Elder's three-point attempt at the buzzer wouldn't fall and the teams headed to an extra period.

Elder gave Asheville its last lead (62-61) following a free throw with 2:00 left in overtime. The score remained unchanged until Martin coverted a third-chance layup with 21.5 seconds left to lift the Panthers to a 63-62 advantage.

The Bulldogs called timeout and then got the ball to Hood, who drove the lane but traveled with 4.9 seconds left, giving the ball back to HPU. Martin grabbed the inbounds pass, was fouled and drained two free throws with 1.3 seconds to play. UNCA was unable to get off a tying attempt and the Panthers celebrated.

The Panthers came out on top despite being outshot (44 percent to 37 percent) and outrebounded (48-34). HPU turned the 27 UNCA turnovers into 35 points.

Emily Mills had six points, four rebounds and three blocks for the Panthers, who got nine boards from O'Dell. Barton and Velinda Vuncannon each tossed in six points for UNCA.

The Panthers hit the road for a Tuesday date at Birmingham-Southern. Tip-off is scheduled for 8:00 pm EST. Asheville hosts Longwood in a non-conference game Wednesday night (7:00 pm).