LAKE WALES, Fla.- The Ave Maria University women's basketball team began conference play with a victory on Thursday night, as the Gyrenes claimed a 56-45 victory over Warner University. AMU moved to 7-1 on the season with the road conference victory.
Ave Maria started slowly on Thursday night, making just two field goals in the first quarter. Warner never trailed in the opening ten minutes, outscoring Ave Maria 9-5 in the opening frame. Sarah Miller provided both of AMU's field goals in the first, with a Katie Houbolt free throw starting the scoring.
The Gyrenes climbed into the lead into the second quarter thanks to a run early in the frame. After Warner stretched their lead to seven on a three-pointer, the Gyrenes responded by scoring the next eleven points. The run was capped by an Amanda Kasprzak three-pointer, giving the Gyrenes a four-point lead. The lead would change hands twice more in the frame, and Ave Maria took a 20-18 lead into halftime.
In the third quarter, the Ave Maria offense came to life, scoring 18 points and nearly doubling their total for the game. The Gyrenes surged in the first six minutes of the quarter, outscoring the Royals 14-2 to take a 34-20 lead. Warner was able to cut the lead down to eight points, but a Katie Houbolt jumper with 41 seconds allowed AMU to take a ten-point lead, 38-28, through three quarters.
AMU withstood a charge from the Royals in the fourth quarter to ensure a 1-0 start in Sun Conference play. Warner started the frame on a 7-0 run to cut the Gyrene lead to three, 38-35, with 8:19 to play. Over the next four minutes, the Gyrenes put the hosts away with a 13-2 run of their own. Danielle Weinmann keyed the Gyrene run, scoring nine of the 13 points. Warner would not get back within double digits for the remainder of the game, coming no closer than the final eleven point spread.
Led by her big fourth quarter, Weinmann powered the Gyrenes with 16 points. Miller added another double-double to her total, scoring 12 points and pulling down 18 rebounds. Defensively, the Gyrenes held Warner to just 21 percent shooting. Daijah Turner scored 24 of the Royals' 45 points in the losing effort.
The conference schedule for the Gyrenes continues on Saturday, when Ave Maria hosts Webber International University. The matchup with the Warriors, which will open a doubleheader, is scheduled for a 2:00 p.m. tipoff.
