LAKELAND, Fla. --- The Ave Maria women's basketball team fell 80-60 to Southeastern in a Sun Conference contest on Tuesday night. The Fire used 10 first half threes to jump out to a 49-27 halftime lead en route to the win over the Lady Gyrenes.
 
Lauren Gillingham led the Lady Gyrenes with 21 points and eight rebounds. She was 7-of-13 from the field and made 6-of-8 from the free throw line. Taylor Lindsey added 17 points for AMU.
 
AMU shot 39.3 percent for the game and were 5-of-15 from behind the arc.
 
Ali Sanders led four Southeastern players in double-figures with 19 points and eight rebounds. Christin Strawbridge finished with 16 points and 10 rebounds. As a team, the fire shot 49.2 percent from the field and made 12-of-28 shots from three.
 
Southeastern made their first six shots of the game, including a pair of threes, to jump out to an early 14-0 lead. Ave Maria was able to cut into the lead late in the quarter, pulling within six, 16-10, at the 2:56 mark. The Fire extended their lead in the second quarter, taking a 49-27 lead in the half.
 
The Lady Gyrenes outscored Southeastern 33-31 in the second half but weren't able to overcome the first half deficit.
 
Ave Maria returns to the court on Thursday night when they welcome Florida College to Tom Golisano Field House for a non-conference matchup. The game is set to tip at 5 p.m.