"Then all of a sudden ... she was grabbed around the neck and dragged by an attacker who we believe was trying to get her to a car parked on the grass outside an adjoining room," Mr Loughrin said.
"Unable to scream very loudly due to being held around the throat, the woman has kicked and lashed out, scratching the man with her fingernails before breaking free."
The victim ran for help and the offender fled to a car on the grass.
Police hope if they can locate the white, older-model station wagon it will lead them to the man responsible for the terrifying incident, which has left the young woman traumatised.
Mr Loughrin said the offender, described as a Maori or Pacific Islander in his early 20s, might have been driving the wagon around the college campus recently.
He called the incident "nasty" and with "sinister overtones" and urged the public to come forward with any sightings of the vehicle.
The Asian student was being helped by Victim Support with the help of translation services.
College principal Martin Campbell said he was highly concerned. Nothing like this had happened before at the religious school, which had been at Gordonton for 18 years.
Meanwhile, police investigating last month's sexual assault in Hamilton released identikit pictures yesterday to aid the manhunt.
Detective Constable Jason Bishop said the attack happened about 9pm on October 19 in Fairfield.
The two attackers were described as Maori, aged in their 20s, and one had bad skin on his face.
They were wearing distinctive clothing. One had on a black long-sleeved Sons of Anarchy shirt with white writing down the sleeves.
The second man was wearing a "Raiders throwback" jersey with grey writing.
The two incidents are not being linked by police at this stage.
