Miklannet Tennal scored 23 points to lead Cloud County to a 71-56 victory over top-seeded Midland, Texas, on Saturday in Salina, giving the Thunderbirds the NJCAA women's national title.

N'Kiesa Richardson added 17 points, Paulette Valentine 15 and Laura Herman 14 for Cloud County (31-7), which recovered from an overtime victory in the semifinals to hand Midland its second loss of the season.

Cloud, playing 48 miles south of its Concordia campus, built a 35-24 halftime lead and pulled away from the Chaparrals by making 22 of 25 free throws.

"You can't put us on the line," said Tennal, who was named tournament MVP. "It's over when you put us on the line."

Midland cut its deficit to 46-44 in the second half on a three-pointer by Heidi Lange. But Cloud County scored nine of the next 11 points and closed out the game by hitting its last 16 free throws.

"This wasn't by accident," Cloud coach Brett Erkenbrack said. "We beat everybody in the country the last two weeks that thought they had a chance to win it. We're national champions."

MIDLAND (35-2): Samiton 0-2 0-0 0, Mostacilla 2-2 0-1 4, Martin 4-10 4-5 12,

Gray 0-1 0-0 0, Lange 5-12 0-0 12, Carter 2-5 1-4 5, Feagler 0-1 0-0 0, Alesse

3-5 0-0 6, Rhodes 3-7 1-2 7, Butler 1-1 0-0 2, Sutherland 3-5 0-0 8. Totals

23-51 6-12 56.

CLOUD COUNTY (31-7): Herman 6-13 2-3 14, Beamon 0-2 0-1 0, Richardson 4-11

8-8 17, Fuchser 1-2 0-0 2, Tennal 6-20 9-10 23, Valentine 6-11 3-3 15, Smith 0-1

0-0 0. Totals 23-60 22-25 71.

Halftime -- Cloud 35, Midland 24. 3-point goals -- Midland 4-16 (Samiton 0-1,

Lange 2-9, Carter 0-1, Feagler 0-1), Cloud 3-9 (Richardson 1-2, Tennal 2-7).

Total fouls -- Midland 20, Cloud 17. Fouled out -- Fuchser. Rebounds -- Midland

32 (Carter 9), Cloud 40 (Herman 11). Assists -- Midland 14 (Mostacilla, Martin,