AVE MARIA, Fla.- The Ave Maria University women's basketball team moved to 2-0 on a historic Saturday afternoon at the Tom Golisano Field House, defeating the Falcons of Florida College 79-44. It is the first time the Gyrenes have started a season 2-0 since the 2013-2014 season.

Senior guard Lauren Gillingham became just the sixth player in school history to score 1,000 points at Ave Maria, as the Estero native recorded 15 points to move her career total to 1,001. Gillingham was honored postgame with a commerative basketball. While scoring her 1,000th point, Gillingham recorded a double-double for the second night in a row, adding ten rebounds to go with 15 points. The senior also tallied a team-best five assists.

Ave Maria produced another dominant performance, leading for the final 44:50 after Florida College claimed an early 4-1 lead. Ave went on a 20-4 run in the first quarter to turn that 4-1 deficit into a 21-8 lead in a span of 5:06. AMU held a 22-10 lead after one quarter of play.

The second quarter was more of the same, with Ave outscoring the Falcons 18-9. The quarter included a 15-3 run that widened a 25-14 lead into a commanding 40-17 lead late in the first half. Two Florida College free throws ended the scoring to give Ave Maria a 21-point lead at the break. 

AMU kept the pressure on in the second half, winning both quarters to outpace Florida College 39-25 in the final 20 minutes.

The Gyrenes played an excellent game defensively in the victory, limiting the Falcons to a .259 field goal percentage. Ave Maria was also effective on the offensive glass, pulling down 18 offensive rebounds, which led to 16 second chance points.

In addition to Gillingham's double-double, Jasmine Bateman scored 15 points of her own to even her fellow senior as the game's high scorer. Sarah Miller came two rebounds shy of another double-double, logging 12 points and eight rebounds. In total, all 15 active Gyrenes saw time on the floor, and 12 entered the scoring column.

With a 2-0 record in hand, the Gyrenes are back on the floor Sunday afternoon for an exhibition tilt with Lynn University. The matchup is the first of two against NCAA Division II opponents over the next two weeks, as the Gyrenes will travel to Flagler College on November 11. Tipoff in Boca Raton is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.