CLINTON, Iowa - Fresh off the Thanksgiving holiday, the Ashford University (4-4, 0-0 MCC) women's basketball team clawed back from a double-digit first-half deficit, but ultimately fell short against Indiana University-Northwest (4-2 overall) on Friday night, 65-59, in Kehl Arena.

"Tonight was a really good effort and we made some effective adjustments on defense in the first half," AU Head Coach Chris Powers said. "But we missed a lot of open looks that normally would go down and made some key turnovers down the stretch that just can't happen. We'll rest up and get ready for Rochester College tomorrow afternoon."

AU guard Whitney Miller of Clinton helped lead the Ashford offensive effort with a career-high 14 points. The sophomore was able to get consistent penetration into the teeth of the Redhawks' defense and converted a pair of critical three-point plays in the second half after drawing contact in the lane.

Six of Miller's points came at the free-throw line and she converted four of seven attempts from the field. Her previous career high point total came last season when she scored eight points off the bench against Mt. Mercy College (2/21/09).

Senior guard Kim Fabry of Oconto Falls, Wis., led the Saints with 15 points and six rebounds.

IU-Northwest guard Juliette Keller was unconscious from long range in the first half, hitting all five of her three-point tries and led the Redhawks with 19 points. Reigning NAIA Div. II A.I.I. Player of the Year Sharon Houston added 18.

Houston, a 6-4 forward, was plagued with foul trouble throughout the second half after Ashford adjusted and collapsed on her in the post. She added five blocked shots and was one rebound shy of a double-double, pulling in nine.

The Redhawks took advantage of their frontcourt height between Houston and 6-4 center Ish Shah Terry in the early going, leading by as many as 11 with just under five minutes left in the first half.

But Ashford put its rally cap on and went streaking on a 13-0 run, taking its first lead of the game at the 2:05 mark after a three-point shot by Fabry. Senior forward Bethany Mahmens of Goose Lake would knot things up at 32 on a baseline jumper and AU went into the half all square.

The Redhawks came out of the break on a 6-0 run and the Saints would recapture the lead just one more time on the second of a pair of free throws by junior guard Jordan Davis of Delmar.

With just under five minutes to go, AU couldn't trim the deficit to less than four despite a pair of technical fouls assessed to forward Jenelle Kapelinski and Terry.

The Saints come back home to defend its home court in Kehl Arena as it hosts Rochester College. Tip is set for 1 p.m.