La CROSSE, Wis. - Sami Weaver did it all in the final 27 seconds, propelling eighth-seeded Viterbo University past the Ashford University women's basketball team in the Midwest Collegiate Conference Tournament on Monday.

The V-Hawks' freshman guard hit a pair of go-ahead free throws, made a steal, converted a fast-break layup, grabbed a defensive rebound and made a clinching free throw to seal a 62-58 win in R.W. Beggs Senior Gymnasium.

The V-Hawks advanced in the tournament bracket and will face top-seeded Iowa Wesleyan College on Thursday in quarterfinal action.

Ashford's season comes to an end with an 8-21 overall record.

The Saints were scorching from long range in their final game of the year, hitting 10 three-point field goals. Both teams shot an identical 42.3 percent from the field on exactly 22-of-52 shooting, but the V-Hawks had the edge at the charity stripe.

But Ashford labored to hitting just 4-of-12 of its free throws while Viterbo, not much better at 66.7 percent, managed to hit 14-of-21 attempts.

"It came down to our missed free throws and it cost us," AU Head Coach Chris Powers said. "We had a strong first half and kept our turnovers down low to put ourselves in a good position to come away with this game."

Both teams made a series of runs that were negated by each other.

The Saints ran off an 9-0 run in the first half to take break a 20-20 tie, highlighted with treys by junior guard Kayla Crist of Stanwood and Shel'si Weaver of Beloit, Wis. Viterbo closed the half strong and with back-to-back longballs by Joni Stanek and Dani Templin, the V-Hawks trimmed the deficit to one.

Ashford put points on the board on its first possession of the second half on a bucket by Kim Fabry of Oconto Falls, Wis. AU led at the half, 32-30.

After a 39-all tie, Crist and a trifecta from Kaela Hunt of Indianapolis, Ind., had the Saints back up by five with over 13 minutes remaining.

The teams were neck-and-neck down the stretch, but AU's junior Jordan Davis of Delmar hit a three with 1:04 remaining to put the Saints, 58-57.

That's when Weaver took over and a desperation trey by Davis didn't fall with six ticks left on the clock.