CLINTON, Iowa - The Ashford University (5-4, 0-0 MCC) women's basketball team successfully overcame a double-digit second-half deficit and made a critical defensive stop down the stretch in a non-conference win over Rochester College (Minn.) (6-4 USCAA) on Saturday, 57-55.

The Saints halted a two-game slide to pick up their fifth win of the season, its last contest before entering Midwest Collegiate Conference play on Wednesday against Clarke College.

The third-ranked Warriors, affiliated with the USCAA, suffered their fourth loss of the young season.

"I'm proud of the way the team responded today," AU Head Coach Chris Powers said. "We showed some resiliency down the stretch and made some clutch shots. We didn't guard the three-point shot well to begin the second half, but we dug deep to get this win."

Senior forward Shel'si Weaver of Beloit, Wis., netted a season-high 20 points to lead all scorers and helped the Saints shoot a red-hot 59 percent from the field in the second half.

Coming off a tough home loss just yesterday against Indiana University-Northwest, the Saints struggled with their shot out of the gates, firing at a 27-percent clip in the first half (8-for-30).

But Rochester was also marginal at best and neither team led by more than five points in the first 20 minutes.

Rochester opened the second half on a 14-4 run with back-to-back treys on its first two possessions. Two more three-point field goals and a pair of free throws by Warriors' guard Jessica Crook had the Saints staring at a 10-point deficit.

The Warriors would lead by as many as 13 with just over nine minutes to play before the Saints started to chip away and a pair of consecutive three pointers by Weaver cut the margin to five.

Senior guard Kelly Fisher of Fremont, Calif., tied it up at 49-all after hitting a trey from the wing at the 4:18 mark. Weaver, with senior forward Bethany Mahmens of Goose Lake, converted layups to tie on separate incidents at 53 and 55 before AU cleaned up at the charity stripe.

Sophomore guard Whitney Miller of Clinton and junior guard Kayla Crist of Stanwood each hit the front end of 1-and-1 chances as AU took its first lead of the second half with 1:19 remaining.

Miller was a difference maker off the bench again, dishing out a career-high six assists, one game removed from scoring a personal-best 14 points in yesterday's game against IU-Northwest.

Crist was whistled for an over-the-back foul after her own miss with two ticks left on the clock to send Crook to the free-throw line for 1-and-1 opportunity. Crook missed the front end, but Ashford touched the ball last out of bounds and gave Rochester new life for an inbounds play.

Crook hoisted up a last-second shot from three-point territory, but AU senior forward Bethany Mahmens of Goose Lake altered the shot by forcing Crook to take extra dribbles and her heave hit front iron.

Crook and center Elizabeth Stockwell led the Warriors with 11 points apiece.

Ashford will enjoy a few days of rest before opening MCC play on Wednesday against Clarke College. The women's game precedes the men's game and a tip is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.