Emily Bailey's double-double led the Orediggers (20-5, 18-3 RMAC) to their first crown in the NCAA era in what was a winner-take-all game between the two co-league leaders. Bailey erupted for 22 points and 12 rebounds, leading Mines in a decisive 54-33 rebounding night.

There is still work to do for Mines, who must beat Colorado Christian at home in the regular-season finale next Friday to clinch the #1 seed and the rights to host the RMAC Shootout. At the least, Mines is assured of a first-round quarterfinal on Tuesday, March 1 and the #2 seed.

Tied 30-30 at halftime, Mines hit on a 8-0 run early in the third quarter that began with a pair of Bailey free throws and ended with her layup at 4:12 to force a CSU-Pueblo timeout and put the Orediggers ahead five.

It proved to be a lead they would not relinquish. Bailey hit two more layups to end the quarter as Mines held Pueblo to a single basket over the final 3:22, and her free throws to open the fourth stretched the lead to 10.

The Thunderwolves cut into the advantage early in the fourth, however, getting as close as three on Tuileisu Anderson's layup at 4:18 before Caitlyn Smith hit a dagger three-pointer and Laura Tyree and Bailey added consecutive buckets to re-establish the 10-point lead, 57-47, with 3:05 to go. The defense again clamped down as Pueblo was held to two points in the final 2:30.

NOTABLES
- Mines' only other RMAC Championship came in 1979-80, when they split the regular season with Mesa College (now Colorado Mesa). The Orediggers were picked ninth in this year's preseason coaches' poll.
- Mines tied the program record for wins in a season at 20, set back in 2009-10.
- Bailey scored 18 of her 22 in the second half. She matched her career scoring high and set a new best for boards.
- Tyree did a little bit of everything with 10 points, six boards, and two assists, while Courtney Martin had eight points and nine boards. Caitlyn Smith scored nine with as many rebounds, and had two key fourth-quarter three-pointers.
- Martin is now 31 points away from 1,000 for her career.
- Cassidy Budge led the bench with 10 points.
- The Mines defense held CSU-Pueblo to 30.3 percent shooting and held a +14 rebounding advantage. Ashley Piper had 17 and Molly Rohrer 16, but the Thunderwolves bench produced only four points.