AVE MARIA, Fla. --- The Ave Maria University women's basketball team rallied in the fourth quarter and claimed a crucial 65-60 victory over Thomas University on Saturday afternoon at the Tom Golisano Field House. The win moved the Gyrenes to 5-5 in Sun Conference play, and allowed AMU to eclipse the visiting Night Hawks for fifth place.
 
The first quarter featured a series of runs, as each team surged in spurts during the opening ten minutes. Thomas went on runs of 6-0 and 9-2, while the Gyrenes responded with a 6-0 run of their own, as well as an 8-4 spurt to close the quarter trailing Thomas by just three, 19-16.
 
Ave Maria led for the majority of the second quarter, thanks to three three-pointers in the first 2:02 of the quarter. However, the Gyrene lead never extended past four points, and the Night Hawks closed on a 7-2 run to hold a 32-31 lead at halftime.
 
Thomas and Ave traded the lead six times in the third quarter, with neither team leading by more than three points until a late surge by the Night Hawks gave the visitors a four-point edge heading to the final quarter.
 
The Gyrenes played their best basketball of the day in the closing ten minutes, especially on the defensive end of the floor. Trailing 53-49 with 7:42 to go, the Gyrenes would allow just seven points in nearly eight minutes, including just two field goals. Ave Maria took the lead for good with 2:37 to play on a lay-up by Sarah Miller.
 
Perhaps the biggest play of the game came with 24 seconds remaining and Ave leading 62-60. After two missed free throws, Macarena Corral was able to tip the miss out to Katie Houbolt, who was fouled amd was able to make a free throw of her own. Lauren Gillingham followed with a steal and two more free throws to seal the victory.
 
Miller led the Gyrenes with 16 points, and recorded her fifth double-double of the season with 14 rebounds. Eight of Miller's rebounds came on the offensive glass, where the Gyrenes pulled down 18 offensive boards. AMU outscored Thomas 16-7 on second chance points. Mallory Burton and Lauren Gillingham were also in double figures, with 13 and 11, respectively.
 
J'Niyah Daniels was the leading scorer for the visiting Night Hawks, tallying 16 points. Arianna Anderson also had a double-double, notching 13 points and 12 rebounds.
 
The Gyrenes will face another critical conference test on Thursday night when Florida Memorial University travels to the Tom Golisano Field House. Florida Memorial currently sits in fourth place in The Sun Conference standings, one game above the Gyrenes.