AVE MARIA, Fla.- The Ave Maria University women's basketball team overcame an early deficit by knocking down a season-high eleven three-pointers in a 72-63 victory over the Warner University Royals. The Gyrenes moved to 8-3 in Sun Conference play with the victory, and moved into sole possession of third place in the league.

The Gyrenes got off to a very slow start on Saturday afternoon, making just two of their 13 shots in the first quarter. Warner built an eight-point lead in the opening frame, holding an edge of 13-5 with 3:54 to play in the quarter. The Royals would also hold eight-point leads of 16-8 and 18-10 before a pair of free throws from Danielle Weinmann allowed the Gyrenes to cut the lead to six after the first ten minutes of action.

Taylor Allen took over the game for Ave Maria in the second quarter, scoring 12 of the team's 20 points in the frame. The sophomore knocked down three three-pointers and a pair of free throws, and led Ave Maria to a 20-11 edge in the second quarter. The half concluded with a three-pointer from Katie Houbolt with 56 seconds left, which capped a 7-0 run and gave the Gyrenes a 32-29 lead entering the halftime break. 

After making just one field goal in the first half, Weinmann came alive in the third quarter, scoring nine points and helping Ave Maria to a nine-point lead. For the second quarter in a row, the Gyrenes closed the action on a 7-0 run, as a Taylor Lopez three-pointer, a Sarah Miller layup and a Weinmann jumper increased Ave Maria's lead from 49-47 to 56-47. As a team, AMU shot 52.9 percent from the field in the third, and knocked down four of their eight three-pointer attempts.

An even fourth quarter saw the Gyrenes' lead go no lower than six points, and as high as 12 points. Warner twice got within six points of Ave Maria in the final ten minutes, with the efforts countered by a Houbolt three-pointer and a Renee Roberts jumper, which came after two offensive rebounds from Lopez.

Allen led the Gyrenes with 19 points, a career-high for the sophomore. She made six of her seven shots, including four of five three-pointers, and added a rebound, a block, and a steal. Weinmann followed with 17 points, and Houbolt added 12. Allen's effort led Ave Maria to a 26-6 advantage in bench points. Four Royals were in double figures, led by Alana St. Clair's 19 points.

The 17-4 Gyrenes remain at home in Sun Conference play on Thursday, as the Wildcats of Johnson and Wales University come to town. The women's game will tip off at 5:30 p.m. as the opening game of a women's and men's doubleheader.