SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. – Hillary Southworth scorched the nets for a career-high 34 points Monday night to lead the West Liberty University women's basketball team to a 94-86 win at the Butcher Center.

Coach Lynn Ullom's Hilltoppers (8-3, 6-1) broke open a close game with a 9-0 run early in the second half and held off a late surge by the Rams (4-7, 3-4) to win for the sixth time in their last seven outings.

After a see-saw opening half that saw the teams combine for 16 lead changes, West Liberty led for all but a few seconds in the final 20 minutes.

Southworth provided the game's last lead change with a driving hoop that put the visitors on top, 46-45, in the first two minutes of the second half.

The Hilltoppers reeled off 9 straight points over the next 90 seconds to go up 53-45 before Shepherd called a timeout to stop the bleeding with 16:46 remaining.

West Liberty led by as many as 11 points, 73-62, midway through the half but the Rams took advantage of some WLU foul trouble to make one last run.

With senior center Meghan Wiseman on the bench with four fouls, Shepherd was able to work the paint for 8 straight points and forge an 80-80 deadlock with 3:47 remaining.

Ullom sent Wiseman back onto the floor and the veteran pivot responded with an 18-foot jumper that put the visitors ahead to stay, 82-80, with 3:25 to go.

Freshman point guard Liz Flowers splashed home a pair of free throws after a Jordan Stacey steal and Wiseman finished off a dazzling feed from Flowers for an 86-80 lead with 2:21 remaining.

Shepherd closed the gap to 86-84 on two foul tosses by Priscilla Moseh with 1:49 to go but the Hilltoppers were able to close out the game at the charity stripe.

Southworth had 8 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals to go along with her 34 points. Wiseman and Bri Kamarec backed the junior standout with 17 and 11 points, respectively, while Flowers stuffed the stat sheet with 10 points, 6 assists and 5 rebounds.

Emily Daniel and Rachel Johnson led the way for Shepherd with 19 and 16 points, respectively.

West Liberty travels to Greensburg, Pa. on Thursday for a 5:30 p.m. game with Seton Hill.