AVE MARIA, Fla. --- The sixth-ranked Ave Maria women's lacrosse team gave second-ranked Lawrence Tech all they could handle Friday afternoon before falling 15-11. The Lady Gyrenes fall to 3-2 on the year with both loses coming to teams ranked in the top three.
 
The opening minutes were back and forth with both teams clicking offensively. AMU scored first when Mackenzie Tourville found the back of the net. The Blue Devils responded with three straight to take a 3-1 lead.
 
Goals by Katelyn Sherman and Tourville tied the game at three with 19:40 to play in the half. After a Lawrence Tech goal, Georgie Miller and Alexis Smich each scored to retake the lead for the Lady Gyrenes 5-4.  Lawrence Tech responded with five straight goals to take a 9-5 lead. Later in the half, Stephanie Hilker scored for the Lady Gyrenes and Miller scored her second goal with 19 second to play to make it a four-goal deficit, 11-7, at the half.
 
The teams alternated goals in the second half as Lawrence Tech was able to maintain their four-goal edge. Both teams scored four goals in the second half. Miller scored the first goal in the second half followed by three straight by Sarah Wade.
 
Ave Maria outshot Lawrence Tech, 35-29, and put three more shots on frame, 25-22, then the Blue Devils.
 
Miller and Wade each finished with three goals apiece. Miller also had two assists. Tourville finished with two goal and two assists. She also had six draw controls.
 
Bianca Ballarin took the loss in goal for AMU. She made seven saves on the afternoon.
 
The Lady Gyrenes begin to wrap up their busy spring break schedule with a matchup against Concordia-St. Paul on Sunday at noon before hosting Georgetown on Tuesday at 4 p.m.