"I thought our kids gave great effort and were ready to play and played strong throughout," UNK coach Carol Russell said. "We had some runs. Both teams got stale on offense, but we played tough defense through that stretch."

Jade Meads scored a game-high 25 points to lead the Lopers (27-6). The junior made 9-of-14 field-goal attempts and made all six of her free-throw attempts, while also pulling down five rebounds four on the offensive end.

Amy Mathis recorded a double-double for UNK, scoring 16 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. Her performance helped the Lopers avenge a 77-68 loss at Fort Lewis this season back on Dec. 15.

The difference this time?

"We were able to beat their press better and we had more second-half assists," Mathis said. "We were setting each other up better and beating their press."

Fort Lewis (26-4) was led by Laura Haugen's 16 points. She connected on 5-of-12 shots from the floor, including four 3-pointers. Katie Mackey finished with a double-double, recording 13 points and 10 rebounds for the Skyhawks.

Nebraska-Kearney will now face top-seeded South Dakota (29-1) a 66-55 first-round winner over Colorado State-Pueblo in the semifinals of the North Central Region. Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. at the DakotaDome on the campus of the University of South Dakota.

"I'm excited to play South Dakota tomorrow," said Russell, whose team lost to the Coyotes 84-51 on their home floor back on Dec. 1. "USD is very good, solid at home and we know we'll have to play our best game.

"They have good scorers, great shooters and good depth. Defensively, they were switching and we hadn't seen that but we will be better prepared tomorrow."

NEB.-KEARNEY 66, FORT LEWIS 58

NEB-KEARNEY (27-6)

Mathis 4-9 5-6 16, Hinkley 2-5 2-4 6, Mildenberger 0-2 3-4 4, Schuppe 2-6 2-2 6, Meads 9-14 6-6 25, Petri 0-3 0-0 0, Becker 4-5 0-0 8, Schneider 1-5 0-0 2. Totals 22-49 18-22 66.

FORT LEWIS (26-4)

Redfern 1-6 0-0 2, George 4-8 0-0 9, Mackey 4-12 4-4 13, Haugen 5-12 2-2 16, Kerr 0-9 0-0 0, Jackson 0-1 0-0 0, McCulloch 2-4 0-0 6, Bodaness 2-3 1-2 6, Rosel 1-5 4-6 6. Totals 19-60 11-14 58.

Halftime UNK 27, Fort Lewis 24. 3-point goals UNK 4-11 (Mathis 3-7, Mildenberger 0-1, Meads 1-2, Petri 0-1), Fort Lewis 9-25 (Redfern 0-2, George 1-2, Mackey 1-3, Haugen 4-7, Kerr 0-5, Jackson 0-1, McCulloch 2-3, Bodaness 1-2). Fouled out Redfern. Rebounds UNK 38 (Mathis 10), Fort Lewis 34 (Mackey 10). Assists UNK 9 (Hinkley 4), Fort Lewis 11 (Mackey 3). Turnovers UNK 25, Fort Lewis 23. Total fouls UNK 16, Fort Lewis 19. Technicals None. A 213.

NCAA II Women

NORTH CENTRAL REGIONAL

At Vermillion, S.D.

Friday, March 14

Wayne State 85, North Dakota 78

Minnesota State 73, Concordia-St. Paul 70

South Dakota 66, Colorado State-Pueblo 55

Nebraska-Kerney 66, Fort Lewis 58

Saturday, March 15

Wayne State (22-9) vs. Minnesota State (22-8), 4 p.m.

South Dakota (29-1) vs. Nebraska-Kearney (27-6), 6 p.m.

Monday, March 17

Championship, 7 p.m.