MOUNT VERNON, Ohio — The University of Rio Grande erased a seven-point first half deficit and rallied from five points down in the second stanza to post a 66-60 win over Mount Vernon Nazarene University, Friday night, in women’s basketball action at the Physical Education Center.

With the win, the RedStorm (3-8) snapped a seven-game losing streak and completed a season sweep of their former America Mideast Conference rival.

Mount Vernon dropped to 2-9 with the loss.

Rio Grande trailed 22-15 with 9:18 left in the first half following a steal and layup by MVNU’s Ashley Jessie, but RedStorm reeled off eight straight points of their own to take their first lead of the night, 23-22, on a jumper by sophomore forward Tinesha Taylor with 5:30 remaining before intermission.

Rio’s lead reached as many as five points late in the half before the Cougars forged a 29-29 deadlock at the break and opened the second half on a 7-2 run to take a 36-31 advantage after Camaranne Myles connected on one of two free throw attempts with 16:03 left in the game.

The RedStorm scored six straight points to regain the lead with just over 14 minutes left and the contest remained a see-saw affair over the next 6-1/2 minutes before Rio went in front for good, 50-48, after a jumper in the lane by senior guard Shardai Morrison-Fountain with 7:52 remaining.

Rio Grande’s biggest lead of the night came at 59-52 following an offensive rebound and stickback by junior guard/forward Kate Hammond with 3:36 left and the Cougars got no closer than three the rest of the way.

Morrison-Fountain finished with a game-high 24 points to lead the RedStorm, while Taylor and freshman forward Julia Heaberlin had 12 points each.

Freshman forward Sarah Bonar had a game-high 11 rebounds in the win despite fouling out in just 20 minutes of playing time.

Mount Vernon got 11 points apiece from Jessie and Myles in the loss, while Emily Steveley pulled down eight rebounds.

The Cougars shot just 27.6 percent in the second half (8-for-29), committed 26 turnovers and were outrebounded 51-39.