This marks the second time in three years the Thunderwolves (21-9) win the tournament with a "Cinderella" run and earn the league's automatic bid to the NCAA's. This year, CSUP was the fifth seed while in 2006, their were a sixth seed.

Second-seeded UNK (26-6) sees a 10-game win streak snapped and falls to 6-3 in RMAC tournament title games. The Lopers were looking for their first RMAC tourney title since 2004.

Saturday's game was a mear image of UNK's 77-71 OT win over CSUP in early January. In that contest, the Lopers couldn't hit the broad side of a barn for most of the night but, behind 57 rebounds (30 offensive), came back to win.

UNK again dominated CSUP on the glass 55 to 33, including 32 offensive rebounds but couldn't overcome a season-low 28.4 percent shooting effort (21 of 74). Pueblo, taking 19 less shots then Kearney, was at a solid 47 percent from the field.

Back in January, UNK beat the T-Wolves by going only 24 of 80 (30 pct.) from the field.

The Lopers also had 18 turnovers, their highest total since Feb. 16. That led to 15 points for Pueblo.

Playing in their hometown but not on their home court, Pueblo used a 12-2 run late in the first half to lead by eight, 32-24. The lead grew to 11 by the break and never got under seven points in the second half.

Senior forward Amy Mathis (Millard North) led the way with a career-high 16 rebounds (four offensive) and 14 points. Fellow post Melissa Hinkley (Lincoln East) joined Mathis as Lopers to play all 40 minutes and she finished with nine points and 13 rebounds, 11 coming on the offensive end.

Both represented UNK on the all-tournament team.

Next, juniors Jade Meads (Elm Creek) and Jonni Mildenberger (Sterling, Colo.) each grabbed five offensive boards and combined for 12 points and 13 total rebounds.

Finally, Beaver City sophomore Megan Becker came off the bench to score nine points (3 of 5 FG) and pull down six rebounds.

For Pueblo, Black scored 13 of her team-high 17 points in the first half. Guard Mary Rehfeld finished the game with four threes and had 10 of her 16 in the second half with reserve Rachel Espinoza tallying 12 points on 4 of 8 shooting.

Colorado State-Pueblo 70, Nebraska-Kearney 54

COLORADO STATE-PUEBLO (21-9)

Black 7-15 2-2 17, Draper 2-4 3-5 8, Miller 2-3 0-2 5, Rehfeld 5-11 2-2 16, Staggs 3-4 0-2 6, Ambuul 3-9 0-1 6, Ackerman 0-0 0-0 0, Dahlberg 0-1 0-0 0, Espinoza 4-8 4-5 12. Totals 26-55 11-19 70.

NEBRASKA-KEARNEY (26-6)

Shuppe 2-9 0-0 4, Mathis 5-18 2-2 14, Hinkley 3-13 3-4 9, Meads 4-15 0-0 8, Mildenberger 1-8 2-2 4, Petri 1-2 0-0 2, Becker 3-5 3-6 9, Schneider 2-4 0-0 4. Totals 21-74 10-14 54.

HalftimeCSP 36, UNK 25. 3-point goalsCSP 7-18 (Black 1-2, Draper 1-2, Miller 1-1, Rehfeld 4-9, Ambuul 0-4), UNK 2-13 (Schuppe 0-1, Mathis 2-9, Meads 0-1, Mildenberger 0-1, Petri 0-1). Fouled outnone. ReboundsCSP 33 (Black 9), UNK 55 (Mathis 16). AssistsCSP 14 (Black, Draper 3), UNK 9 (Schuppe 4). TurnoversCSP 13, UNK 18. Total foulsCSP 11, UNK 19. Technicalsnone. Attendance2,057.