LAKELAND, Fla.- The Ave Maria University women's basketball team ended the 2019-20 regular season in Lakeland on Saturday, as the Gyrenes took on the nation's number one team. Despite a 97-47 loss to the Southeastern University Fire, Ave Maria's season will continue. The Gyrenes officially clinched the number six seed in The Sun Conference Tournament, and will enter postseason play on Tuesday.
The game was close for the much of the first quarter, as the Gyrenes stayed within the Fire, who finished off their fourth consecutive undefeated season in Sun Conference play. Southeastern scored the first eight points and ten of the first 12 in the opening two and a half minutes. Ave Maria answered with 10-2 run of their own, powered by two three-pointers from Macarena Corral and two layups from Danielle Weinmann. Southeastern did lead for the remainder of the frame, and held a 23-17 advantage heading to the second.
Southeastern started to pull away from the Gyrenes in the second quarter, which saw the Fire outscore AMU 28-9. The Fire missed just ten of their 32 shots in the first half, shooting an astounding 68.8 percent from the field. The Gyrenes shot well enough in their own right, shooting 47.6 percent from the field and making four of their seven three-point attempts. Taylah Simmons, who very well may be named Sun Conference Player of the Year next week, led all players with 18 points on ten shots.
In the second half, the top-ranked Fire continued to add to their lead. Southeastern outscored Ave Maria 46-21 in the second half to account for the final margin of victory. The Fire did not shoot nearly as well in the second half, logging a 48.6 percent mark from the field. However, the Fire took advantage of 16 Gyrene turnovers in the second half. AMU could not keep up with their three-point pace from the first half, either. The Gyrenes made just one of eight shots from long distance in the final 20 minutes.
Macarena Corral was the leading scorer for the Gyrenes on Saturday, making three three-pointers en route to a 13-point performance. Danielle Weinmann also added eleven points in the losing effort. Taylah Simmons put the finishing touches on her conference Player of the Year candidacy with 35 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists. Four other Fire players were in double figures, as well.
Despite the loss, Ave Maria clinched a spot in The Sun Conference Tournament, and will enter the postseason at the number six seed. As the sixth-seed, the Gyrenes will head to North Miami on Tuesday night for a meeting with the Wildcats of Johnson and Wales University at 6 p.m.. The semifinals and finals will be held on Friday and Saturday night in Lakeland, with Southeastern serving as host.
