Ave Maria

JOLIET, Ill. --- The Ave Maria Women's Basketball team fell on the road on Friday night, 81-57, at fifth-ranked St. Francis (Ill.). The Lady Gyrenes are now 1-2 on the season and conclude their Chicago trip on Saturday against Robert Morris (Ill.).
 
Jasmine Bateman led AMU with 16 points and four assists. Lauren Gillingham added 12 points, eight rebounds and three assists. Mallory Burton also finished in double-figures with 12 points and six rebounds.
 
The Lady Gyrenes were outrebounded 41-34 and committed 24 turnovers compared to 14 by St. Francis. St. Francis turned the 24 Lady Gyrene turnovers into 29 points.
 
Charnelle Reed and Christina Ekhomu led St. Francis with 19 points apiece.  Reed also had 14 rebounds.
 
After St. Francis opened the game on a 6-0 run, AMU battled back to take a 10-9 lead on a Burton jumper with 3:07 remaining in the first quarter. A few minutes later, Erin Koehler made a jumper to retake the lead for the Lady Gyrenes 14-13. A three by St. Francis with three seconds to play in the quarter, gave the St. Francis a 18-14 lead after a quarter of play.
 
In the second quarter, AMU kept within striking distance of the fifth-ranked team before a 9-0 run gave St. Francis a 33-20 lead. St. Francis would take a 36-25 lead into the half. Ave Maria was outscored 19-13 in the third quarter and 26-19 in the fourth as St. Francis went on to win 81-57.
 
The Lady Gyrenes take on Robert Morris (Ill.) tomorrow at 6 p.m. EST (5 p.m. CST).