Box Score FORT MYERS, Fla. --- The Ave Maria University women's basketball team fell to the Eagles of Florida Gulf Coast University on Sunday afternoon in an exhibition game at Alico Arena, dropping a 101-34 decision to the Atlantic Sun Conference opponent.

The only Division I team the Gyrenes will play this season, FGCU has played in either the NCAA Tournament or the WNIT in each of the past nine seasons.
 
Sarah Miller was the leading scorer for Ave Maria, scoring nine points. The freshman also pulled down eight rebounds to pace Ave Maria, coming just short of her third consecutive double-double. Brooke Pierron and Katie Houbolt each hit a pair of three-pointers for the Gyrenes, and Pierron added two free throws to follow Miller with eight points. Houbolt also recorded five rebounds in the losing effort. Macarena Corral assisted on six of AMU's 13 field goals, and pulled in four rebounds of her own.
 
FGCU's leading scorer was Erica Nelson, who scored 18 points. Two others, Jessica Cattani and China Dow, were in double figures for the Eagles, who never trailed in the contest. Ave Maria held the usually sharp-shooting Eagles to 25.8% from beyond the three-point line.
 
The Gyrenes will play their final game before Christmas on Tuesday night, traveling north for a contest with Saint Leo University. AMU will break for 22 days after facing the Lions, and tip-off on Tuesday is set for 7 p.m. Ave Maria's next home game is January 12 against the Wildcats of Johnson and Wales University.