MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. --- Judson University outscored the Lady Gyrenes 22-7 in the third quarter to edge the Ave Maria women's basketball team, 63-53, on Wednesday afternoon in the Athletes Meals Classic hosted by St. Thomas.
 
Annie Artise led the Blue and Green with 14 points and eight rebounds over 34 minutes. Lauren Gillingham and Saje Schlatterer each finished with nine points. Gillingham also tallied eight rebounds to tie Artise for the team-high. Erin Koehler added eight points for AMU.
 
The Lady Gyrenes shot 30 percent from the field while Judson made 48 percent of their shots. For the game, Ave Maria held a 17-4 edge in second chance points while Judson finished with a 24-10 advantage in points in the paint.

Both teams came out firing, making a combined six of their first seven shots from the field, to make the score 10-8 in favor of Judson. A few minutes later, a jumper by Gillingham would put AMU in front 11-0 with 6:31 to play in the opening quarter. The Lady Gyrenes led by as many as five in the first quarter before a three with 11 seconds to play brought Judson within two, 23-21, after one.
 
Judson again started the quarter quickly in the second, making three of their first four shots to take a 28-25 lead. Late in the half, back-to-back baskets by Koehler gave the Blue and Green a 32-30 lead. With the clock winding down, a layup by the Eagles with seven seconds remaining put Judson ahead 33-32 at the half.
 
In the third quarter, Ave Maria made just 2-of-10 from the field while Judson made 9 of their 12 shot attempts including four of five from behind the arc to take a 55-39 lead into the fourth quarter.
 
The Judson lead grew to as much as 17 in the fourth quarter before a late 7-0 run by the Lady Gyrenes made the final 63-53.
 
Jayla Barrett led Judson with 16 points. Bethany Zorrow also finished in double-figures for the Eagles with 12 points. Kelli Ludwig added nine points and seven boards for Judson.
 
Ave Maria returns to action tomorrow afternoon when they take on the University of St. Francis (Ill.) at 3 p.m. in Miami Gardens. The game is part of the Athletes Meals Classic hosted by St. Thomas.