CLINTON, Iowa - The Ashford University women's basketball team clawed back from a nine-point second-half deficit to halt a seven-game skid against Viterbo University on Thursday night in Kehl Arena, winning 54-53.

AU senior forward Bethany Mahmens of Goose Lake continued her torrid shooting streak, finishing with a game-high 14 points on 6-of-8 shooting. Senior Kim Fabry of Oconto Falls, Wis., added 10 points and handed out four assists.

The Saints (8-13, 2-8 MCC) managed to split the season series against the V-Hawks (6-17, 2-7 MCC) and picked up their second win in Midwest Collegiate Conference play.

"I'm proud of the way the team fought in the second half," AU Head Coach Chris Powers said. "It was a good game of basketball until the end and we were able to generate some offense when we really needed it."

Fabry hit the game-winning layup at the 1:37 mark.

"It feels awesome to get back in the winning column because we were in a sluggish fog for a while," Fabry added. "We needed to get that confidence back. Each possession counted in the second half and we addressed boxing out and rebounding better as keys to get back in the game."

Mahmens hit a tying layup and a pair of go-ahead free throws with just over six minutes to play that gave the Saints their first lead of the game. Deadlocked at 48-all, both teams were scoreless for over three minutes before layups were exchanged.

Another three minutes and change went by without any scoring before junior guard Jordan Davis of Delmar cashed in with a pair of free throws to make it 52-50.

Viterbo would lead by one on a 3-pointer by Sami Weaver, but Fabry drove down the lane for what proved to be the game winner on the next possession. The V-Hawks had their chances, forcing a pair of Saints' turnovers and Fabry missing the front end of a 1-and-1 opportunity, but their last three shot attempts went array.

The Saints held Viterbo double-double machine Katina Mandylaris to just six points and five rebounds. Dani Templin, who left the game in the second half with an apparent knee injury, had a team-high 12 points along with Weaver.

Ashford faces another big test on Saturday, traveling to conference-leading and No. 15 Iowa Wesleyan College in Mt. Pleasant. Tip is set for 1 p.m.