Women's Basketball | 2/23/2015 1:55:00 PM

AVE MARIA, Fla. – The Ave Maria University Lady Gyrenes will play #2 seeded Southeastern University in the first round of The Sun Conference Championship at Southeastern in Lakeland, Fla. The Lady Gyrenes finished the regular season 15-15; 6-12 in TSC play on the season. They are the #7 seed in the eight team tournament.
 
GREEN AND BLUE NEWS
The Ave Maria women's basketball team went 2-1 last week against TSC opponents. AMU defeated Florida Memorial 87-65. All five starters scored in double figures led by Yvanessa Vincent (17 points, 12 rebounds) and Annie Artise (11 points, 11 rebounds) who both had a double-double. In the second game of the week, the Lady Gyrenes defeated Thomas University 79-60. In the lone road game on the week, the Lady Gyrenes were defeated 50-81 by St. Thomas. Lauren Gillingham had a strong week as she averaged 14.3 points, seven rebounds, and three assists in the three games. Vincent also had a big week as she averaged 11 points and eight rebounds on the week. Four of the regular starters all averaged over 10 points in games played.
 
LADY GYRENES STATISTICAL LEADERS
Madison McDonald – G, Sr. (14.2 ppg, 3.57 apg)
Annie Artise – G/F, Jr. (14.5 ppg, 7.1 rpg)
Taylor Lindsey – G, Fr. (8.2 ppg, 1.5 spg)
Yvanessa Vincent – F, Jr. (7.1 ppg, 7.6 rpg)
 
SCOUTING THE FIRE
The Lady Gyrenes played Southeastern twice in the regular season. Their first meeting was a lopsided 52-70 loss. Artise scored 12 points and had 11 rebounds. Vincent led in the rebounding category with eight. .AMU started the game strong; trailing only in the first minute of action. With 12 minutes left to go in the half, the Lady Gyrenes were up by seven, with the help of two free throws by McDonald. The Fire kept it close and did not trail by more than five for the remainder of the half. The Gyrenes went into the locker room with a four point lead. The second half saw four early lead changes before the Fire took the lead with 13:30 left in the half; and never looks back. The Lady Gyrenes struggled, shooting just 22% from the floor in the second half. They were unable to score a field goal as Southeastern went on an 18-1 run in a seven minute swing. The Fire shot 51% in the second half. The Fire dominated the paint scoring 26 points, to the Lady Gyrenes 12. AMU was also outrebounded 41-29. Alyssa Ramos had a double double for Southeastern scoring 14 points and pulling down 10 rebounds.

In the second game, Southeastern came away with a 81-50 victory. Gillingham led the Gyrenes with 13 points and nine rebounds. Lindsey contributed nine points. It was a tough start for AMU, as the Fire came out strong to build a solid 9-2 lead just minutes into the game. AMU slowly started to chip away, and with13 minutes left to go in the half the Lady Gyrenes had cut their deficit in half to trail by three off of a three by Lindsey. The Fire went on a 15-4 run to end the half with AMU now trailing by nine. McDonald wasted no time in getting the Lady Gyrenes on the board, scoring three points just seconds into the second half to cut the lead to six. Ramos responded, just ten seconds later with a three of her own; as Southeastern managed to shoot 7-of-14 in three point attempts for the half. AMU struggled to put the ball in the basket; shooting just 33% from the field in the second half. While AMU only had seven turnovers for the game, they were unable to stop the sharp shooting of Tiara Young, and Ramos from the outside. AMU was outrebounded 44-25.Young scored 19 points for the Fire, while Ramos had 15 points, while shooting 50% from the field.

Currently Southeastern is nationally ranked:

• Number 2 in Division II in 3-Pt Fg Made per Game (12.767)
• Number 2 in Division II in Total 3-Pt FG Made (383)
• Number 9 in Division II in 3-Pt Fg Pct (0.360)
• Number 9 in Division II in Free Throw Pct (0.739)
• Number 17 in Division II in Total Scoring Offense (2238)
• Number 18 in Division II in Total Total Rebound Offense (1287)
• Number 18 in Division II in Assist/Turnover Ratio (0.975)
• Number 21 in Division II in Field Goal Pct Defense (0.356)
• Number 22 in Division II in Scoring Margin (12.433)

 
Southeastern also has several individual National rankings:

Ramos

• Number 1 in Division II in 3-Pt Fg Made per Game (3.967)
• Number 1 in Division II in Total 3-Pt FG Made (119)
• Number 41 in Division II in 3-Pt Fg Pct (0.379)
• Number 42 in Division II in Total Scoring (466)

Newman

• Number 16 in Division II in Total 3-Pt FG Made (76)
• Number 19 in Division II in 3-Pt Fg Made per Game (2.621)
• Number 25 in Division II in 3-Pt Fg Pct (0.398)

 
THE SUN CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP MATCHUPS
#1 St. Thomas vs. #8 Warner
#2 Southeastern vs. #7 Ave Maria University
#3 Webber vs. #6 Florida Memorial
#4 Embry-Riddle vs. #5 Thomas
 
TEAM HIGHLIGHTS AND NAIA DIVISION II NATIONAL RANKINGS
Ave Maria University currently Ranks:

• Number 8 in Division II in Total Rebound Defense (33.833)
• Number 16 in Division II in Total 3-Pt FG Made (211)
• Number 23 in Division II in 3-Pt Fg Made per Game (7.033)
• Number 27 in Division II in Free Throw Pct (0.721)
• Number 35 in Division II in Total Rebound Margin (4.400)
• Number 36 in Division II in Total Blocks (97)
• Number 40 in Division II in Blocks per Game (3.233)
• Number 42 in Division II in Total Scoring Offense (2068)
• Number 45 in Division II in Offensive Rebounds per Game (13.700)
• Number 45 in Division II in Scoring Defense per Game (63.500)
• Number 48 in Division II in Scoring Margin (5.433)
• Number 48 in Division II in Total Assists (405)
• Number 47 in Division II in Total Assists (386)

 
Ave Maria Individual Rankings:

Vincent

• Ranks Number 23 in Division II in Offensive Rebounds per Game (3.517)

 
McDonald
 

• Ranks Number 47 in Division II in Total Assists (103)

 
 
Statistics as of 02/23/15