AVE MARIA, Fla. --- The Ave Maria University women's basketball team vaulted into fourth place in The Sun Conference standings with a 69-54 victory over Johnson and Wales University at the Tom Golisano Field House on Thursday night. The 15-point win was powered by Lauren Gillingham, who recorded just the second triple-double in Ave Maria history with 15 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists. It was the first triple double since February 5, 2011, when Emily Huber accomplished the feat.
 
The Gyrenes held a scant five-point lead at halftime, a lead buoyed by their performance on the offensive glass. For the game, Ave pulled down 15 offensive rebounds and converted them into 17 second-chance points. Despite allowing ten offensive rebounds to JWU, the Gyrenes only surrendered four second chance points. AMU's offensive rebound total equaled Johnson and Wales' total on the defensive glass. Sarah Miller and Erin Koehler each pulled down four offensive rebounds.
 
A 20-13 third quarter allowed the Gyrenes to pull away from the Wildcats, with much of the offense coming in the paint. Miller posted a game-high 20 points, and completed a double-double with 12 rebounds, also a game-high. Her effort came efficiently, as the freshman knocked down nine of her eleven shots. Erin Koehler had her best game of the season, recording a season-high 16 points and grabbing seven more rebounds, which ties her best total of the season.
 
Ave Maria also earned a three-point victory in the fourth quarter, allowing the Gyrenes to win each ten minute session. The second half saw the Gyrenes shoot 62.5% from the field, missing just nine shots in the final 20 minutes of the game. Conversely, Johnson and Wales missed 23 of their 33 second half attempts.
 
Gillingham capped her historic night with 1:15 remaining in the fourth quarter, assisting on Ave Maria's final field goal of the night, a layup by Koehler. She had secured the double-double, her third of the season and the ninth of her career, early in the fourth quarter.
 
Led by Gillingham's efforts, the Gyrenes recorded an assist on 21 of 29 field goals. Ave Maria was able to turn Johnson and Wales' mistakes into points, scoring 15 points on 15 Wildcat turnovers.
 
The win moved Ave Maria to 3-4 in TSC play, a record good for fourth in the conference leaderboard. The Gyrenes quickly return to conference action on Saturday afternoon, as AMU hosts Webber International at the Tom Golisano Field House. Tipoff for the pivotal conference matchup is scheduled for 2 p.m