FARGO (AP) - The director of North Dakota's only abortion clinic says it could set a record this year.

Tammi Kromenaker is the director of the Red River Women's Clinic in Fargo, which marked its 10th anniversary in July. She said the clinic performs an average of about 25 abortions a week.

"The record for the number of abortions was 1,358 in 2003," she said. "Last year, we had 1,238. But this year, if we continue to see the same number of patients, we most likely are going to see the most patients in one year, a record number of abortions."

The increase is due in part to cuts in money for college health clinics, Kromenaker said.

"Part of it is the economy," she said. "Part of it's the fact that earlier this year, college health clinics had a lot of their funding rescinded. So younger women, college-aged students, can't get subsidized birth control. When you can't afford birth control, when it's $50 or $60 a month instead of $10 or $15, I think that makes a big difference."

Abortion opponents began a 24-hour prayer vigil last week in front of the clinic. It has recruited volunteers to escort clients past protesters.

Gloria Patocka, director of the 21-year-old Women's Pregnancy Center in Grand Forks, said the Christian nonprofit that opposes abortions is seeing higher than normal numbers.

Last month, the center sponsored a rally at Schroeder Middle School celebrating abstinence. Patocka said nearly 600 people attended, about 500 of them high school and college students from 50 miles around.