SAINT LEO, Fla. --- After a slow start, Ave Maria outscored Saint Leo 52-48 over the final three quarters of play as their upset bid came up short at Saint Leo in an exhibition game on Tuesday night, 65-58. AMU used a balanced effort with five players scoring seven or more points to push the NCAA Division II opponent.
 
Sun Conference Player of the Week Sarah Miller led the Lady Gyrenes with 12 points on 5-of-6 shooting. She also made both her free throw attempts while grabbing a team-high nine rebounds and dishing out a team-best five assists.
 
Jasmine Bateman and Lauren Gillingham each tallied 10 points while Katie Houbolt added nine points for the Blue and Green. Gillingham, Erin Koehler and Cassidy Lalumiere each grabbed five boards for AMU.
 
The Lady Gyrenes got off to a slow start and Saint Leo took advantage, going on an 11-2 run to begin the game and taking a 17-5 lead after one quarter of play. Trailing 20-5 with 8:50 to play in the second, AMU turned things around and went on a 14-1 run over the next few minutes to pull within two, 21-19, at the 5:27 mark in the quarter. Saint Leo closed the half on a 12-4 spurt to take a 33-23 lead into the break.
 
To start the third quarter, Saint Leo began to open the game up and led by as many as 20 with 5:16 to play in the third before AMU went on a run to cut the deficit in half heading to the fourth. Houbolt hit two-straight threes in the final minute to make the deficit 10, 49-39.
 
Early in the fourth, Gillingham nailed a three to bring AMU within seven and a few minutes later, Bateman would make a three to pull the Lady Gyrenes to within five. Saint Leo responded with a 9-0 run to create some breathing room for the Lions. A final push by the Lady Gyrenes made the final 65-58.
 
Ave Maria shot 35 percent from the field compared to 31 percent by Saint Leo and held an 8-4 advantage from behind the arc. The Lions were 21-of-27 from the free throw line compared to 6-of-12 for AMU.
 
The Lady Gyrenes will now have 22 days before their next game on Dec. 28 when they take on Reinhardt in the first of three games at St. Thomas in the AAC/TSC Challenge.