LAKE WALES, Fla. --- The Ave Maria women's basketball team fell in a conference match-up at Warner on Wednesday night, 65-59.
 
Lauren Gillingham led the Lady Gyrenes with 19 points and nine rebounds. Annie Artise added 14 points and nine boards. Jasmine Bateman also finished in double-figures with 10 points. Katie Houbolt had eight points and eight rebounds.
 
AMU shot 37 percent from the field and were 8-of-26 from three. Warner made 50 percent of their field goals and were 3-of-5 from behind the arc. Warner made 10-of-13 from the free throw line compared to 5-of-7 by Ave Maria.
 
Mariah Williams led Warner with 20 points and six rebounds. Kaley Schmick added 18 points and five boards.
 
Ave Maria came out firing, making their first four shots from the field including a pair of threes by Artise, to take a 10-2 lead 2:35 into the game. A seven minutes scoreless streak by the Lady Gyrenes allowed Warner to climb back into the game but AMU would maintain a 12-10 lead after the first quarter.
 
Warner tied the game early in the second quarter but a three by Lindsey regained the lead for the Blue and Green. Ave Maria would lead by as many eight in the second quarter and take a 26-22 lead into the break.
 
After Artise hit a jumper with 7:45 remaining in the third quarter to put AMU in front by nine, 32-23, Warner closed the quarter on a 13-0 run to take a 36-32 advantage heading to the fourth.
 
Jasmine Bateman broke the scoring drought for AMU in the opening seconds of the fourth quarter but another quick 7-0 spurt by the Royals put the Lady Gyrenes behind 43-34 with 7:35 to play. AMU wouldn't give in and a three by Katie Houbolt brought the Blue and Green within three with just over two minutes to play. Over the final two minutes, Warner made 5-of-6 from the free throw line and made both field goals they attempted to hold off AMU.
 
Ave Maria returns to Tom Golisano Field House on Saturday for a conference matchup against Thomas. The game will tip at 1 p.m.