AVE MARIA, Fla.- The Ave Maria University women's basketball team never recovered from a slow start, and lost a conference game to the Mariners of the College of Coastal Georgia, 94-54. Coastal Georgia moved to 6-1 in conference play, while the Gyrenes dropped to 4-2.

Coastal Georgia took control of the game from the opening whistle, trailing for just 17 seconds when Ave held a 3-2 lead. The Mariners jumped out to a 20-6 lead less than seven minutes into the game. Ave Maria was able to close the deficit to eight points, 24-16 at the end of the quarter, scoring six unanswered points on four free throws and a Mallory Burton jumper.

The three-point shooting of the Mariners came to the forefront in the second quarter. Coastal Georgia knocked down five threes in ten attempts in the second frame, stretching their lead to 17 points at halftime. The 17-point lead was powered by a 13-4 run to begin the quarter, as well as a 9-2 run that ended it.

Ave Maria managed just 21 points in the second half, as the Coastal Georgia defense forced 23 turnovers that turned into 34 points. The Mariners' biggest lead was the last one, as the visitors left Ave Maria with a 40-point win.

Sarah Miller was Ave Maria's leading scorer and leading rebounder, scoring ten points and pulling down seven rebounds. Four other Gyrenes added six points each - Jasmine Bateman, Lauren Gillingham, Danielle Weinmann, and Amanda Kasprzak.

Freshman guard Sydney Segroves was red-hot from three-point range for Coastal Georgia, knocking down eight threes to power a game-high 27 points. Also in double figures for the Mariners were Romny Felts (15), Solrun Gisladottir (14), and Danesha Murray (10).

The Gyrenes stay in conference play this weekend with a home matchup against Thomas University. The game is the back half of a men's and women's doubleheader, and is scheduled for a 4:00 p.m. tip.