MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. --- The Ave Maria Lady Gyrenes outscored Florida Memorial 45-38 in the second half but were unable to overcome a nine-point halftime deficit in their 81-79 loss in Miami Gardens on Thursday night.
 
Lauren Gillingham led the Blue and Green with 26 points on 8-of-16 shooting. She was 8-for-9 at the free throw line. Sarah Miller posted a double-double for the Lady Gyrenes with 16 points and 11 boards. Mallory Burton and Erin Koehler each finished in double figures with 12 and 10 points, respectively.
 
Ave Maria shot 46 percent on the night while the Lions converted 55 percent of their shots from the field. Florida Memorial was 8-of-9 from three while AMU finished 6-for-11.
 
The Lady Gyrenes struggled in the opening minutes, missing seven shots which allowed Florida Memorial to jump out to an 8-0 lead. The Lions wouldn't give up the lead in the first half, leading by as many as 13 in the second quarter and taking a 43-34 lead into the break.
 
The Blue and Green chipped away at the FMU lead in the third quarter to pull within striking distance late in the quarter 59-55.
 
 FMU quickly extended their advantage to double-digits midway through the quarter. Trailing by 10 with 4:37 to play, the Lady Gyrenes went on a 10-0 spurt to tie the game with 1:21 remaining. After a basket and a couple free throws by FMU put the Lions up three, AMU was able to get a couple looks at three in the final seconds to tie the game but couldn't get anything to fall.
 
The Lady Gyrenes move to 8-9 on the season and sit at 4-5 in Sun Conference play. Ave Maria returns home for a 2 p.m. tilt with Thomas on Saturday in the first game of the women's and men's basketball doubleheader.