AVE MARIA, Fla.- The Ave Maria University women's basketball team erased a 12-point second halftime, but fell just short in a 71-68 loss to Florida Memorial University on Senior Day at the Tom Golisano Field House. The loss sealed Ave Maria's spot at the number four seed in the Sun Conference Tournament.

Both teams started slowly, with just 12 total points scored in the first eight minutes. Florida Memorial led 8-4 with 4:17 to play in the quarter, which was followed by more than two minutes without any points. The Gyrenes took the lead at the end of the first quarter thanks to five consecutive points from Lauren Gillingham, and held an 11-10 advantage after the opening ten minutes of play.

Florida Memorial grabbed control of the game in the second quarter, building a 12-point lead at one point in the frame. The Lions went on a 20-7 run over the first eight minutes of the quarter, and took a 30-18 lead with just over two minutes to play in the half. Ave Maria was able to close the gap to five points with a 9-2 run, which was capped by a buzzer beater from Jasmine Bateman. Ave's closing run cut FMU's lead to 32-27 entering halftime.

The Lions again built a 12-point lead in the third quarter by scoring the first seven points of the frame. The Gyrenes were able to battle back, and cut the lead to five points by the end of the frame. Four Gillingham free throws in the final 40 seconds of the quarter cut the Lions' lead from nine points to five at the end of the frame, which saw Florida Memorial lead 51-46 with ten minutes to play.

Ave Maria took the lead for the first time in the second half with 6:26 to play on two free throws from Mallory Burton. The Gyrenes led by as many as five points, 63-58, with 2:27 left, but fell victim to a 7-0 run from the Lions. After two Gillingham free throws tied the game, Abreona Cabell hit a three with 43 seconds left to give FMU a 68-65 lead. 

Down by four points with 20 seconds remaining, Burton drilled a three to bring the Gyrenes within one. After a turnover, the Gyrenes could not connect on a pair of free throws, and could not get a three-point attempt to fall at the buzzer.

Gillingham led the Gyrenes with 21 points, and Burton followed with 15. Sarah Miller added 14 points and 12 rebounds to record a double-double. For Florida Memorial, Cabell scored a game-high 31 points.

AMU enters The Sun Conference tournament with an 11-7 record in league play, which tied the Gyrenes for third. The Gyrenes are the number four seed in the conference tournament, which earns AMU a home game. Ave Maria hosts fifth-seeded Johnson and Wales on Tuesday evening at the Tom Golisano Field House, with the winner facing No. 1 Southeastern in the semifinals on Friday in Lakeland.