AVE MARIA, Fla- The Ave Maria University women's basketball team began the Megan Becker era on a high note, rolling to a 91-37 season-opening victory over Trinity College at the Tom Golisano Field House on Thursday night. The Gyrenes, who were led by a record-setting performance from Sarah Miller, won their fourth consecutive season opener, and moved to 5-0 all-time against the Tigers.

Ave Maria wasted no time in jumping out to a double digit lead, as the Gyrenes scored the first ten points of the game on six points from Amanda Kasprzak and four from Miller. The Gyrenes allowed just one field goal to the Tigers in the opening period, which did not come until nearly nine minutes into the game. Kasprzak and Miller both scored eight points in the first quarter to lead the Gyrenes to a 22-5 lead after ten minutes of play. 

AMU's efforts continued into the second quarter, where the Gyrenes scored 25 more points en route to a 47-18 lead heading into the halftime break. Nearly half of the Gyrenes' points in the second quarter came from long distance, with four of the team's eight attempts from three-point range falling. Katie Houbolt and Taylor Allen each made two three-pointers in the second frame, powering AMU to a 29-point lead at halftime.

The Gyrenes rolled in the second half, outscoring the Tigers 44-19 and growing their lead as big as the final 54 points. Ave Maria was led by Miller, who scored a career-high 32 points in the victory. The 32-point effort was tied for the second largest total in school history, and was the most by a Gyrene player in nearly six years. The junior also pulled down 24 rebounds to set a new single-game school record, which she had tied in a game with Webber International University last season, where she grabbed 22 rebounds.

Joining Miller in double figures were Houbolt and Kasprzak, who scored 15 and 12 points, respectively. Houbolt drilled five three-pointers to account for her 15 points, while Kasprzak recorded her 12 points on 6-of-8 shooting. The Gyrenes outrebounded the Tigers 57-25, and dominated the offensive glass with 26 offensive rebounds - 12 of which were pulled down by Miller. 20 of Ave Maria's points were accounted for on second chances.

Defensively, the Gyrenes forced 32 turnovers from the Tigers, which turned into 31 points. Danielle Weinmann led the defensive effort with six steals, and Miller added five. Trinity shot 23.1 percent from the field, making just 12 of their 52 shots. The Gyrene defense held Markenesja Hardy to 3-of-17 shooting after allowing the guard to score 28 points in the season opener in 2017. 

Ave Maria returns to the court on Tuesday evening against Johnson University on the road in Kissimmee. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. The next home game comes on Friday, November 2, when the Gyrenes host the University of the Virgin Islands at the Tom Golisano Field House.