AVE MARIA, Fla.- The Ave Maria University women's basketball team could not overcome 28 turnovers on Thursday night, and lost their conference opener to the Warriors of Webber International University, 63-51. The Gyrenes were outscored in the final three quarters at the Rhodora J. Donahue Academy, and fell to 1-3 on the season.

Ave Maria started well on Thursday evening, jumping out to a 12-6 lead just over six minutes into the contest. The 12-6 lead was powered by five straight points from Taylor Allen, which increased AMU's lead from 7-6 to 12-6. The Gyrenes maintained their lead for the entirety of the first quarter, holding a 15-12 lead after the first ten minutes of the contest. 

Webber took the lead early in the second quarter, and led by as many as four points, 23-19, with 3:59 to play in the half. The Gyrenes answered with six unanswered points on a Catie Reszel three-pointer and a Taylor Allen and-one, taking a two-point lead of 25-23. Dasia Wandick then made a layup on the final possession of the half, sending the game to halftime tied at 25.

The Gyrenes built their lead back up to five points, 34-29, in the opening three minutes of the half. However, Webber dominated the remainder of the quarter, outscoring the Gyrenes 17-3. That run included three three-pointers in the final two and a half minutes, which turned a 37-37 tie into a 46-37 lead for the visiting Warriors entering the fourth quarter.

In the fourth quarter, Webber never led by less than nine points, keeping Ave Maria from mounting any sort of comeback. A three-pointer from Paris Copeland with 5:05 remaining opened up Webber's lead to 17 points, 58-41, which proved to be the largest lead for either team. The Warriors cruised for the final five minutes to finish off their 12-point victory in Ave Maria.

AMU committed 28 turnovers on Thursday night, which led to 22 Webber points. The Warriors turned the ball over 24 times themselves, which led the 22 points for the Gyrenes. Webber also held a 50-35 advantage in the rebounding battle, which included 29 offensive rebounds for the visitors. Ave Maria shot 38.8 percent from the field, making 19 of their 49 field goal attempts.

Catie Reszel was Ave Maria's leading scorer, as the freshman logged 13 points. Also in double figures for AMU were seniors Taylor Allen and Megan Allen, who both had ten points and seven rebounds. Sophia Kramer was the leading rebounder for the Gyrenes, pulling down eight. Webber was led by Wandick and Copeland, who combined for 39 points.

Next on the schedule for the Gyrenes is a home game against Florida Memorial University on Wednesday. AMU will welcome the Lions to the Donahue Academy gymnasium for their final home conference game of the calendar year, with tipoff scheduled for 5:30 p.m.