AVE MARIA, Fla.- The Ave Maria University women's basketball team came up short in the final home game of the 2020 season, dropping a 66-55 decision to the Seahawks of Keiser University. Before the contest, the Ave Maria women's basketball program honored the three members of their senior class, as well the late Emily Acosta, who would have been the team's fourth senior.

Both offenses started slow on Saturday, as the Seahawks did not score in the first three and a half minutes while the Gyrenes made just one field goal in an eight minute period. Keiser held a 10-3 with under two minutes  to go in the quarter, but the Gyrenes went on a 7-2 run to close the frame. A three-pointer from Macarena Corral pulled the Gyrenes within two, 12-10 at the end of the first quarter. 

The second quarter was the only frame where the Gyrenes outscored the Seahawks, doing so by a 13-12 margin. Despite AMU's one-point edge in the frame, Ave was never able to take the lead in the second. The Gyrenes were able to tie the score twice, at 12 and 13. For the second quarter in a row, Corral was able to hit a three-pointer in the final minute, cutting Keiser's lead to one point heading into the halftime break.

Ave Maria led for much of the third quarter, taking the lead for the first time at the 7:31 mark on a layup from Taylor Allen. The Gyrenes' lead did not go above three points, though, as Keiser did not allow AMU to pull away. Keiser ended the third quarter on an 8-0 run, scoring eight points in the final 2:20 of the quarter to take a five-point lead, 48-43, into the final ten minutes of action.

Keiser led for the entirety of the fourth quarter, and led by more than three points for all but 18 seconds of the frame. The Seahawks shot 50 percent from the field in the second half, aiding them in a victory that kept Keiser alive in the race for the final two spots in The Sun Conference Tournament.

In her final game at the Tom Golisano Field House, Macarena Corral led all Gyrenes with 19 points, which included five three-pointers. Sarah Miller added her usual double-double with 14 points and 16 rebounds. Keiser's starting five accounted for each of their 66 points, led by 20 from Antigonie Sanabria.

AMU remains in contention for a spot in The Sun Conference Tournament, with the results during the final week of the regular season determining the Gyrenes' fate. An upset over No. 1 Southeastern University on Saturday afternoon would all but seal Ave Maria's spot in the final six. Tipoff at The Furnace in Lakeland is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. next Saturday.