ELGIN, Ill. --- The Ave Maria Women's Basketball team dropped their first game of the season on Thursday night, a 67-48 decision at Judson. The Blue and Green are now 1-1 on the season.
 
The Lady Gyrenes shot just 30.6 percent from the field Thursday night and made 7-of-18 from the free throw line. From behind the arc, AMU converted three of their nine attempts. Although Ave Maria did outrebound Judson 40-33, the Eagles had the edge in turnovers 16-13.
 
Lauren Gillingham led AMU with 15 points and five rebounds. Mallory Burton also finished in double-figures for the Lady Gyrenes with 12 points. Sarah Miller was the team's top rebounder with eight boards.
 
Off the bench, Diamond Courts led Judson with 16 points on a perfect night shooting. She made all five of her shots from the field, including three from deep, and all three of her free throw attempts. Three other Eagles finished in double-figures.
 
Judson shot 50 percent from the field and made eight threes.
 
Judson jumped out to an early lead and used an 11-2 run to take a 21-8 advantage with a couple minutes to play in the first quarter. The Eagles led by as many as 25 in the first half and took a 24-point edge, 45-21, into the half.
 
AMU began to chip away at the Judson lead and cut it to 14, 50-46, with 2:10 to play in the third quarter before the Eagles ended the quarter on a 7-0 run. In the fourth quarter, the Lady Gyrenes again wouldn't give in and cut the lead to 13, 57-44, on five straight points by Kandice Smith with 6:21 to play but back-to-back threes by Judson again spoiled the Lady Gyrenes' run.
 
Ave Maria returns to action on Friday when they take on Saint Francis (Ill.) at 7 p.m. EST (6 p.m. CST). Live video and stats will be available.