AVE MARIA, Fla. --- The Ave Maria women's basketball team's rally came up short in the final minutes as they fell to Southeastern, who is receiving votes in the latest NAIA Top-25 Poll, 59-51, on Wednesday night.
 
Annie Artise led the Lady Gyrenes with 11 points and nine rebounds. The nine boards brings her to 966 for her career and to within 34 of the 1,000 rebound mark.
 
Lauren Gillingham had 10 points to go with seven rebounds and six assists. Cassidy Lalumiere had 10 points. Erin Koehler and Jasmine Bateman each had six points and three rebounds.
 
AMU shot 34.5 percent from the field and were 2-of-10 from three. They made 11 of their 12 free throw attempts.
 
Ali Sanders led all scorers with 15 points. She also had seven rebounds. Christin Strawbridge finished with a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds. Carlie Newman (12) and Bailey Hooker (10) also finished in double-figures for Southeastern.
 
There were three ties and three lead changes in a back-and-forth opening quarter that saw Southeastern take a 12-11 lead after 10 minutes. AMU had the largest lead of the quarter at 6-4 before back-to-back threes by the Fire. With the game tied at 17, Southeastern went on a 6-0 spurt to take a 23-17 advantage. The Fire would maintain that advantage and take a 28-17 lead into halftime.
 
The Fire started to pull away in the third quarter, leading by as many as 14 a couple occasions. Trailing by 10, AMU went on a 9-0 run to pull within one, 50-49, with 4:24 to play. The Lady Gyrenes had a couple chances to take the lead but a three by Southeastern brought the deficit back to four. The Fire ended the game on a 10-2 run to finish with a 59-51 victory.
 
Ave Maria returns to action on Saturday afternoon when they welcome Warner to Tom Golisano Field House. The game is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m.