AVE MARIA, Fla.- The Ave Maria University women's basketball team rolled to a victory on Opening Night, cruising to a 99-42 victory over the Trinity Tigers on Thursday night at the Tom Golisano Field House. The win was AMU's fifth consecutive season-opening win, dating back to the 2015-16 season. Before the game, the Gyrenes honored the memory of teammate Emily Acosta, who passed away the day after the 2018-19 season ended.
After a slow start to the game saw Ave Maria lead just 10-7 three and a half minutes in, the Gyrenes exploded for a 21-2 run that extended their lead to 31-9. Ave held a 33-13 lead after one quarter, led by the three-point shooting of junior Taylor Allen. Allen knocked down four triples in the opening ten minutes to help AMU stake out a 20-point lead.
The AMU defense took center stage in the second quarter, as Trinity managed just one field goal in the ten-minute period - a jumper from Laresha Nelson. In total, the Gyrenes outscored the Tigers 27-5 in the second quarter, holding a 60-18 lead at halftime. Allen's 19 points led the way for AMU in the first half, while Sarah Miller chipped in ten points and Georgia Slay added nine off the bench.
AMU continued to add to their lead in the second half, as the Gyrenes led by as many as 63 points midway through the second quarter. The Ave Maria scoring output was varied in the final 20 minutes, with five different players scoring at least five points and no scoring more than seven.
Two school records were set on Thursday night - field goals attempted (101) and three-pointers attempted (39). The outputs in points (99), field goals made (39), three-pointers made (12), and assists (28) were all among the top six in single-game school history.
Allen's 24 points - which included six threes and three two-pointers, led the way for the Gyrenes on Opening Night. Miller supplied her usual double-double, scoring 17 points and pulling down 14 rebounds. Other Gyrenes in double figures included Syanne Rowe and Slay, who both scored 12 points. Trinity was led by Larissa Roker, who scored 13 points.
The Gyrenes are back at home on Saturday evening for a meeting with the Suns of Johnson University. AMU swept the Suns last season, winning both games by at least 25 points. Tipoff at the Tom Golisano Field House is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.
