AVE MARIA, Fla.- The Ave Maria University women's basketball team built a 20-point first quarter lead, but could not hold on as the St. Thomas University Bobcats rallied for a 72-69 victory at the Tom Golisano Field House on Thursday evening. The Gyrenes enter Saturday's regular season finale needing a win and a Coastal Georgia loss to claim the number three seed in The Sun Conference Tournament.

Ave Maria could not ask for a better start to the game, jumping out to a 28-8 lead after ten minutes of action. The first four minutes of action were low-scoring, with St. Thomas holding a 6-5 lead 4:12 into the game. From there, the Gyrenes exploded for a 23-2 run, led by four three-pointers. Lauren Gillingham knocked down three triples, and Jasmine Bateman made another.

St. Thomas began to trim the Ave Maria lead in the second quarter, getting as close as 14 points on five occasions, and trailing by 14, 42-28, at halftime. Ave Maria's 14-point halftime lead was buoyed by a 33-11 lead in rebounding, as well as missing just one of their six three-point attempts. The Gyrenes were especially efficient on the offensive glass, pulling down 14 offensive rebounds in the opening 20 minutes of the game.

The Bobcats continued to rally in the third quarter, pulling within two points. A layup from Samara Auguste capped a 15-2 run, trimming a 45-30 Gyrene lead to 47-45. Ave Maria was able to maintain the lead for the remainder of the third quarter, getting field goals from Amanda Kasprzak and Mallory Burton to hold a seven-point lead with ten minutes to play.

In the fourth quarter, Ave Maria held a 13-point lead with 8:31 to play, 61-48, and had a 12-point advantage with 7:46 to play. St. Thomas then scored 12 unanswered points to tie the game at 63 with 3:33 on the clock. After the teams traded baskets, Ebony Griffin gave the Bobcats the lead for good with 2:08 left with an and-one. A jumper from Katie Rienas and two free throws from Auguste sealed the win for St. Thomas, as the Gyrenes were unable to connect on a number of game-tying threes.

Gillingham led the Gyrenes with 18 points and eight rebounds in the losing effort. Sarah Miller also had a huge day on the glass, pulling down 21 rebounds. Miller's effort was the second most in her career, and the third highest total in school history. Two other AMU players were in double figures, as Mallory Burton chipped in 15 and Kasprzak added ten. 

Auguste, who scored her 1000th career point in the win, led all scorers with 23 points. Griffin and Rienas each added 16 points for the Bobcats.

The AMU basketball program will honor their senior class on Saturday with Senior Day, as the Gyrenes welcome Florida Memorial University to the Tom Golisano Field House. Tipoff is scheduled for 4:00 p.m.