Box Score PAXTON, Mass.- The Ave Maria University women's basketball team sealed the best start in program history on Friday night with a 95-38 demolition of Anna Maria College. The 4-0 start to the season is the best mark to begin a campaign in program history, and 98-point output marked the first time since February 8, 2014 that the Gyrenes scored more than 95 points.

The first quarter was not an indication of things to come, as the Gyrenes held just an 11-9 lead after the first ten minutes. Ave Maria never led by more than two points, taking the lead for the third time with 2:06 to play in the quarter on a Syanne Rowe jumper.

Ave Maria put together one of their most dominant quarters in recent memory in the second. Ave outscored the hosts 38-11 in the second frame to hold a 49-20 lead at halftime. Lauren Gillingham led the charge in the frame, scoring 13 of her game-high 22 points. 

The domination continued in the third quarter, which saw the Gyrenes score another 25 points to stretch the lead to 74-31. After Anna Maria started the frame with a made three-pointer, the Gyrenes rattled off 12 points in a row to put the game further out of reach, taking a 63-23 lead. Katie Houbolt was key in the run, scoring seven points in less than five minutes.

Ave finished the victory with 24 points in the fourth quarter, and held Anna Maria to under a dozen points, as they did in each of the game's four quarters.

Four Gyrenes were in double figures, and 13 players entered the scoring column. Gillingham led the charge with her 22 points, and the senior posted team-highs with eight rebounds and four assists. Sarah Miller converted on eight of her eleven attempts from the field to score 16 points, and the sophomore added seven rebounds. Houbolt scored 12 points, while Jasmine Bateman added nine. As a team, the Gyrenes shot 51.4% from the field.

Defensively, Ave forced 27 Anna Maria turnovers, which turned into 25 points. Anna Maria shot just 27.7% from the field against the now 4-0 Gyrenes.

Ave Maria's Massachusetts trip continues this weekend with two games at the Emerson Tip-Off. The Gyrenes begin the event on Saturday with a game against Mount Saint Mary College from New York. Tipoff in Boston is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.