ST. CATHARINE, Ky. --- The Ave Maria women's basketball team finished their opening weekend with a 2-1 record after defeating St. Catharine 79-66 on Saturday afternoon.
 
Taylor Lindsey led the Lady Gyrenes with 18 points and three assists. Annie Artise finished with 17 points and eight rebounds while Lauren Gillingham added 14 points and nine boards. Jasmine Bateman also finish in double-figures for AMU with 10 points.
 
Ave Maria shot 45.6 percent (26-of-57) on the afternoon from the field and made seven of their 20 attempts from three. The Lady Gyrenes made 20-of-24 attempts from the free throw line. St. Catharine shot 38.6 percent from the field and made 5-of-16 from behind the arc.
 
AMU outrebounded St. Catharine 40-31. The Lady Gyrenes had an 18-13 advantage on the Patriots in second chance points.
 
The opening quarter saw AMU climb out to a nine point lead, 15-6, at the 4:26 mark after back-to-back baskets by Erin Koehler. After a run by St. Catharine pulled the Patriots within one, 17-16, the Lady Gyrenes got baskets by Yvanessa Vincent and Saje Schlatterer in the final minute of the quarter to take a 21-16 lead after one stanza.
 
St. Catharine continued to chip away at the Lady Gyrene lead and eventually took the lead 27-26 with 4:39 to play in the half. On the ensuing possess for AMU, Artise responded with a three that sparked a 9-0 run for the Blue and Green that also included threes from Lindsey and Andrea Mauger. After a SCC basket, Ave Maria ended the half on a 6-0 spurt to take a 41-31 lead into the break.
 
AMU was able to maintain a double-digit lead for the first few minutes of the third quarter before St. Catharine was able to cut into the Lady Gyrene lead. The Patriots outscored the Blue and Green 17-13 in the third quarter to pull within six, 54-48, heading to the fourth.
 
After the Patriots pulled to within two, 60-58, Artise hit a three to extend the lead to five before a basket by Lindsey made it a seven point edge for the Blue and Green. St. Catharine wouldn't go away and with just over a minute to play, the Patriots hit a three to make it a four-point lead for AMU, 68-64. In the final minutes, Ave made 11 of their 12 free throw attempts to put away the Patriots, 79-66.
 
Ave Maria returns to action next weekend in a pair of exhibition matches. The Lady Gyrenes take on Embry-Riddle on Saturday at 2 p.m. before facing Flagler College on Sunday at 1 p.m.