PITTSBURGH, Pa.- The Ave Maria University women's basketball team concluded their trip to Pennsylvania with a victory on Saturday morning, topping Carlow University 62-53. The Gyrenes return to the Sunshine State with a 6-1 record after winning two of three games in the Keystone State.
A big run allowed the Gyrenes to take the lead in the first quarter. After trailing 5-4 just over three minutes into the contest, Ave Maria proceeded to score ten of the next 12 points to take a 14-7 lead. Carlow was able to score the final four points of the quarter to cut Ave Maria's lead to 14-11 after the first ten minutes of play.
Carlow took the lead back in the second quarter, outscoring the Gyrenes 14-9 to take a two-point lead into the halftime break. Ave Maria led for the majority of the quarter, building their lead back up to seven points. However, the Celtics held the Gyrenes scoreless for the final three minutes of the half, and scored the final six points to take a 25-23 lead at halftime in Pittsburgh.
Ave Maria rebounded with a stellar defensive effort in the third quarter, allowing Carlow to score just seven points. The biggest stretch of the third quarter came in the final 3:30, when the Gyrenes held the Celtics scoreless and went on a 6-0 run on four free throws and a Megan Allen jumper. That surge gave AMU an eight-point lead, 40-32, with ten minutes to play.
Both teams had their highest scoring quarter in the fourth, with the Gyrenes outscoring Carlow 22-21. Ave Maria never let Carlow get any closer than four points in the final ten minutes, and extending their lead as large as 13. In the second half, the Gyrenes iced the victory by making 17 of their 24 free throw attempts, while only allowing the Celtics to shoot four.
Sarah Miller was the focal point of the Ave Maria offense, scoring 29 points and pulling down 15 rebounds. 19 of Miller's 29 points came in the second half. Danielle Weinmann was the only other Gyrene in double figures, adding 12 points. Carlow's leading scorer was Emma Stille, who recorded 15 points and challenged Miller with 15 rebounds of her own.
Conference play begins for the Gyrenes on Thursday, when Ave Maria travels to Lake Wales for a meeting with the Royals of Warner University. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. as part of a men's and women's doubleheader. The Gyrenes will be back at home on Saturday, when the Webber International University Warriors come to town.
