ATHENS, Tenn. --- The Ave Maria University women's basketball team defeated Tennessee Wesleyan 64-59 on Saturday afternoon to improve to 5-0 on the season and complete a 3-0 road trip. The Gyrenes trailed at the half for the first time this season but outscored the Bulldogs 22-11 in the third quarter to propel AMU to the win.
Sarah Miller led the Gyrenes with 15 points, 19 rebounds, and two blocked shots. Danielle Weinmann was the game's leading scorer with 20 points on 7-of-14 shooting including making 6-of-9 from the free throw line. Macarena Corral had 15 points and was 3-of-4 from behind the arc.
Ave Maria shot just 21 percent from the field in the first quarter which allowed Tennessee Wesleyan to jump out to a 15-9 lead after 10 minutes of play. After a TWC basket to begin the second quarter, AMU scored 13 of the next 16 points to take a 22-20 lead. AMU was held to just to one point over the final five minutes of the half and trailed the Bulldogs 25-23 at the break.
Ave Maria tied the game on their opening possession of the third quarter on a jumper by Corral before a basket by Miller put AMU in front 27-25. Over the final four minutes of the quarter with the Gyrenes ahead by three, AMU went on a 13-7 run to extend their lead to nine, 45-36. The Blue and Green shot 69 percent, 9-of-13, in the third and were 4-of-6 from the free throw line.
Tennessee Wesleyan closed the match to three on a couple occasions in the fourth quarter but AMU free throws and a key three-pointer by Corral with 1:38 to play helped seal the win. Ave Maria made 7-of-12 from the charity stripe and made two of their three from deep in the fourth quarter.
Ave Maria was outscored in second chance points, 17-16, and bench points, 28-10, for the first time this season. AMU held a 22-12 edge in points off turnovers over the Bulldogs.
After an exhibition game on Wednesday at Embry-Riddle (Fla.) at 5:30 p.m., the Gyrenes return home for a contest with Trinity Baptist next Saturday. Saturday's game is a 2 p.m. start at Tom Golisano Field House.
