WILMORE, Ky. – The Asbury University women's basketball team won its sixth consecutive game on Wednesday night with a thrilling 99-98 victory over Rio Grande at the Luce Center.

The Eagles used an 11-5 run in the final three minutes of the contest to comeback and claim the victory in the final seconds. Asbury improves to 7-2 on the year and is 5-0 in home contests at the Luce.

Senior Autumn Herriford hit two free throws with six seconds remaining to put AU back on top 99-98. The Eagles held off Rio with one final defensive stand at the buzzer to preserve the win.

Key Stats
*Herriford had a season-high 30 points on 8-14 shooting from the field. The Lexington, Ky. native was also 11-12 from the foul line and collected five rebounds and three blocks.
*Senior Kelsey Johnson also had a big game with a season-high 22 points. Johnson finished 5-9 from behind the arc and tallied two blocks.
*Jaclynn Ruble scored in double figures for the third straight game and totaled 15 points with six rebounds and three assists.
*Sarah Dennison also reached double figures scoring with 11 points, while Trinity Shearer added eight.
*Zaria Napier led AU with a team-high seven rebounds and also scored five points.
*The Eagles knocked down 17 threes as a team and shot just under 40 percent for the game.
*Asbury scored 26 points in the paint and added 18 points off turnovers.

Highlights
*It was a back and forth game all night long with Rio taking a 22-14 lead early on in the opening quarter. The Eagles cut the lead down to just one at 24-23 after ending the period on a 9-2 run.
*In the second, URG took the lead back with an 11-0 run to hold their largest lead of the night at 38-28.
*Asbury fought their way back into it and trailed by only two at halftime at 49-47.
*The Eagles began the second half with three straight three-point field goals and took a 56-52 lead.
*Both traded baskets until the Red Storm took a 70-68 lead late in the quarter. Once again, the Eagles bounced back nicely with a 6-0 run to lead by four heading into the fourth.
*AU carried their momentum over into the final frame and took an 84-76 lead with eight minutes to play.
*However, URG clawed their way back and used a 17-4 run over the next four minutes of play to lead by five at 93-88
*Rio remained out in front with 90 seconds to play. Back-to-back buckets in the paint from Herriford and Johnson cut the lead down to one.
*AU's defense made a critical stop and then Herriford drew a foul and sunk the game-winning foul shots.
 
 
Next Up
Asbury will go for its seventh straight win on Saturday at Midway. Tip-off is set for 1 PM.