AVE MARIA, Fla.- The Ave Maria University women's basketball team continued their perfect start to the 2017-18 season with a 84-74 victory over the Wildcats of Johnson and Wales University. The Gyrenes are now 10-0 on the season, which is not only the best start in school history, it marks the program's longest winning streak since the 2011-12 season.

Ave Maria roared out to a 13-point lead in the first quarter, putting 27 points on the board against the Wildcats. The key run of the opening frame saw the Gyrenes outscore Johnson and Wales 12-2 over a stretch of over three minutes, stretching a four-point lead into a 25-11 advantage. Ave took a 27-14 lead into the second quarter. 

Johnson and Wales rallied to within three points at the end of the second quarter. The Gyrenes led by 16 at one point in the second quarter, and held a 43-31 advantage with 3:33 to play. The Wildcats ended the first half on a 9-0 run, capped off by a Diamond Williams jumper at the buzzer to cut Ave Maria's lead to three points, 43-40, at halftime.

Just as quickly as the Ave Maria lead shrunk, it regrew at the beginning of the third quarter. Katie Houbolt knocked down a pair of three-pointers to start a 12-0 run, and the Gyrenes did not allow a field goal from the Wildcats until over five minutes had passed in the quarter. In total, the Gyrenes outscored the Wildcats 24-13 in the third quarter, and held a 67-53 lead with ten minutes to play.

The Gyrenes, who led for all 40 minutes of the game - Lauren Gillingham made a technical foul shot before the opening tip due to an administrative technincal - never saw the lead get lower than ten points in the fourth quarter. When the Wildcats had pulled within ten with 6:01 to play, Ave Maria quickly went on a 10-2 run to re-extend the lead to 18 points.

For the second time in three games, Sarah Miller scored at least 20 points and pulled down ten or more rebounds. The sophomore led AMU with 23 points and snagged 12 rebounds, as well as adding five assists to the effort. Houbolt hit five three-pointers on the evening, and added a layup to account for 17 points. Mallory Burton had 16 points, while Gillingham came close to a double-double with nine points and eight rebounds.

Over 75 percent of Johnson and Wales' scoring came from three players- Tianna Ayulo (25), Bevin Mays (21), and Nicole Dixon (11). 

The Gyrenes play three games next week - two exhibitions and a critical conference showdown. First on the slate is an exhibition game with Saint Leo University, scheduled for Tuesday evening at 7:00 p.m. That game is followed by a Saturday showdown with Southeastern, who also boasts an undefeated record, in Ave Maria.