ROCHESTER, Minn. - Good starts are nice, but how you finish is usually what leaves a lasting impression.

Saturday night Cal Poly Pomona proved it can close in style as the Broncos captured their second straight NCAA Division II women's basketball championship with a 74-62 victory over Southeastern Oklahoma State before 1,480 fans at the Mayo Civic Center.

Minnesota memories will be lasting for coach Paul Thomas and his players. Winning back-to-back titles for the second time in the program's history - in the process becoming the first team to accomplish the feat on two separate occasions - and clinching a record-tying fifth championship all came on the road in Rochester.

And considering the adversity this year's team endured, including numerous injuries and the intense pressure of being the defending champs, the feat is one worthy of high praise.

"I am exceptionally proud of this group of young ladies. It was just a great team effort," said Thomas, who now has two championship rings in eight seasons coaching the Broncos. "We've been through a lot this year, so much that only our team knows. We pulled together when we had to."

From the other end of the floor, Southeastern Oklahoma State coach Nick Keith was quick to credit Cal Poly Pomona for its performance in the title game.

"They really took it to us," said Keith, his team finishing 27-7 after losing its first-ever NCAA II championship game appearance. "They probably won the ball game early. We could not get any offense going."

As they did a year ago, the Broncos swept through the Elite Eight in impressive fashion. They again landed two players on the all-tournament team. The only difference is while last season Lauri McIntosh watched from the sidelines as then-freshman Aprile Powell earn Most Outstanding Player honors, this time it was the present-day sophomore Powell congratulating McIntosh for garnering the 2002 MOP award.

Offense played a large part in the honor. With her 31-point, 11 rebound performance against the Lady Savages, McIntosh closed out the three-game event with 77 points, 31 rebounds and 10 steals.

But on the final night of her collegiate playing career, McIntosh made her biggest contribution on the defensive end. Squaring off against Brandi Robinson, Southeastern Oklahoma State's top offensive threat, McIntosh took the title-game showdown in knockout fashion.

Robinson, who set a Division II record for most points scored in postseason play (141 in six games), managed just six total points off McIntosh. Her 2-for-10 shooting came with the Broncos forward matching her step for step, allowing no room to maneuver.

Coming one game after Robinson's 34-point semifinal outburst against South Dakota State, it was a truly remarkable defensive performance for the Diamond Bar native.

"I knew the game before she went off for 34 and she wasn't going to do that on me. I take pride in my defense" said McIntosh. "I knew we were going to have to stop her in order to get a 'W' and another ring."

The struggle started early for Robinson and her teammates. After Christie Derzapf hit a 3-pointer to put the Lady Savages ahead 18 seconds into the game, Cal Poly Pomona's defense clamped down tight. Southeastern Oklahoma State missed its next eight field goal attempts while the Broncos scored seven unanswered points, part of an 11-1 run that opened an 11-4 advantage.

It was in the final five minutes of the first half that Thomas' team really took command. Derzapf hit another 3 to pull the Lady Savages within a point at 18-17 with 4:47 left before halftime. Cal Poly Pomona answered by finishing the half on a 12-1 run, including eight straight points by McIntosh to head into the locker room with a 30-18 lead.

"(Runs like that) are very important. And that is one thing that this team is capable of doing. We have a lot of offensive weapons out there. That's what makes us hard to defend," said Thomas. "We're notorious for going on runs. Tonight we did that and we sustained it."

The Broncos blew the game open to start the second half. Eight points by McIntosh and five by Powell fueled a 14-7 run, a 14-foot McIntosh jumper expanding the lead to 44-25 with 14:54 remaining.

Fouls and lack of offensive focus prevented Cal Poly Pomona from cruising the rest of the way. Southeastern Oklahoma State got as close as 11 on three different occasions while McIntosh and later Burgundie Porter fouled out during the final 2½ minutes.

But patience and solid free throw shooting - the Broncos converted 26 of 37 from the line, 23 of 30 in the second half - prevented the margin from ever falling to single digits.

"I thought it was a very, very, very physical game. It's about as physical a game as I have seen in a long, long time," said Keith. "We probably didn't make the adjustments that we should. But I thought the ball game was probably decided in the first 10 minutes. McIntosh, we just didn't handle her. She's a load down there and a great player. She showed why she's the national player of the year."

It was the final game for five Cal Poly Pomona seniors, three of which played four seasons. McIntosh, Porter and Kim Kennedy helped the Broncos post a 104-16 record in their four-year careers, earning NCAA playoff berths every season and winning championship rings their final two years.

Porter had five points, five rebounds, three assists and three steals against the Lady Savages before fouling out with 2:11 left.

"I've gotten fouls all four years, so I'm going to get fouls. The thing is, I trust me teammates. If I foul, I still have to believe my teammates are going to get it done," said Porter, who admonished her teammates to play hard the final 133 seconds. "I said we need to keep it up. We need to play hard and finish off this game. It's not over. You guys bring it home. And they did."

Kennedy had two assists and one rebound in eight minutes of play in the title game. But she was on the floor at the final buzzer while McIntosh and Porter watched from the bench.

"It's nice to put the icing on the cake. It's been an amazing four years with these two," said Kennedy. "To be out there on the floor at the end, what better way to get that fifth banner for the school?"

Powell finished with 20 points and nine rebounds in the victory, while senior guard Leah Whatley, a transfer this season from Tarleton State (Texas) added five points and a game-high eight assists. Margot Richards, another senior, had six points and three rebounds before suffering a knee injury with 1:10 left.

Tera Newnam came off the bench to lead Southeastern Oklahoma with 17 points and nine rebounds in just 25 minutes of play. Starters Derzapf and Dana Sutton contributed 11 and 12 points, respectively, in the loss.

In winning the fifth title in school history, the Broncos tie North Dakota State for the most championships in NCAA II women's basketball history. They also surpass NDSU in total postseason wins, Cal Poly Pomona now at 46-13 in playoff starts to the Bisons' 45-11 mark.

All of it was achieved 21 years after the very first NCAA II women's title game, a contest won by the Broncos.

"Coach (Darlene) May won a championship in 1982. We made sure our kids knew that," said Thomas. "I don't believe anyone has been back to back two separate times. We talked about that, about making history tonight."

The Broncos not only made a historic run during the 2002 Elite Eight, they also left a lasting impression.