BRUNSWICK, Ga.- The Ave Maria University women's basketball team reversed a 40-point loss into a six-point win on Saturday afternoon, as the Gyrenes claimed a 72-66 victory over the College of Coastal Georgia in Brunswick. Ave Maria lost to the Mariners 94-54 just over a month ago, but earned their 20th win and third place in the Sun Conference with Saturday's win.

Coastal Georgia and Ave Maria played a slow-paced first quarter, with the Gyrenes holding a 12-8 lead after the opening ten minutes. AMU's lead was powered by a game-opening surge, where the Gyrenes opened up a 10-0 lead less than three minutes into the game. Ave Maria also held a 12-2 lead before Coastal Georgia scored the final six points of the quarter, cutting the Ave lead down to four points entering the second quarter. 

The Gyrenes played their best quarter in the second, and took an eleven-point lead into halftime. Coastal Georgia, who did not lead at any point in the first half, pulled within three points at three occasions in the second quarter, the latest coming with 3:46 to play. From there, the Gyrenes outscored the Mariners 13-5, a run that was led by six points from Lauren Gillingham. That surge gave AMU a 36-25 lead heading into the halftime break.

In the third quarter, Coastal Georgia rallied as close as two points, and trailed by five at the end of the frame. Ave Maria  built their lead as big as 16 points, leading 43-27 with 7:24 on the clock. The Mariners then went on a 14-0 run, bringing the AMU lead down to 43-41. The Gyrenes responded, never relinquishing the lead, and took a 53-48 lead into the fourth quarter,

Coastal took the lead for the first time all game with 7:38 to play on a layup from Danesha Murray, putting the Mariners up 56-55.  Trailing 58-57 with 6:12 to go, Ave Maria ripped off six unanswered points on field goals from Emily Acosta, Mallory Burton, and Gillingham. Coastal Georgia was able to get within two points with 21 seconds left, but four consecutive free throws salted the game away for the Gyrenes.

Four Gyrenes were in double figures, led by a double-double of 19 points and ten rebounds from Gillingham. Katie Houbolt added 13 points, Burton scored 12, and Kandice Smith chipped in ten. Romny Felts was the leading scorer for the Mariners with 14 points.

Ave Maria now holds sole possession of third place in The Sun Conference with two home games to play. The first of these two home games comes on Thursday, when the Gyrenes welcome St. Thomas University to the Tom Golisano Field House. Tipoff in Ave Maria is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.