AVE MARIA, Fla.- The Ave Maria University women's basketball lost in overtime for the fourth time this month, dropping a 68-64 decision to the Warriors of Webber International University. The Gyrenes have played in three consecutive overtime games, and have fallen by a total margin of 14 points. Ave Maria is now 7-7 in conference play with four contests remaining.
Webber did not trail on Thursday night until the first minute of overtime, and started by taking a lead in the first quarter. The Warriors led by as many as seven in the opening ten minutes, holding leads of 14-7 and 19-12. Ave Maria did not led the visitors from Babson Park pull away in the opening frame, and used a pair of free throws from Hunter Chambers to cut the lead to five, 19-14, at the end of the first.
The first six points of the second quarter were also scored by Webber, giving the Warriors their biggest lead of the game at eleven. An and-one from Sarah Miller and a jumper from Amanda Kasprzak cut the lead back to six, but Webber would continue to lead as the game approached halftime. A layup from Paris Copeland allowed the Warriors to take a 35-25 lead into the halftime break.
Ave Maria began to cut into the Webber lead in the third quarter, getting as close as three points. After trailing by ten with 7:13 to play, the Gyrenes scored 12 of the next 17 points to cut Webber's lead down to three, 42-39. The Warriors would score three unanswered points to increase their lead back to six, but a jumper from Sarah Miller pulled AMU within four, 45-41, heading into the fourth quarter.
AMU tied the game for the first time since the opening tip with 31 seconds left in the game, on a layup from Miller. The Gyrenes would get a chance to win the game in regulation after getting a stop, but would turn the ball over themselves to send the game into overtime. In total, Ave Maria outscored the Warriors 34-24 in the second half to force an extra period at the Tom Golisano Field House.
In overtime, the only points for the first 2:30 were two free throws from Syanne Rowe. Webber would answer with six unanswered points on three straight possessions, and the Gyrenes would not be able to answer. AMU came as close as three points in the final minute, but could never get the ball back with the opportunity to tie the game.
Sarah Miller logged her ninth consecutive double-double, and scored in double figures for the 33rd consecutive game, dating back to last season. Miller led all scorers with 20 points, and added 16 rebounds. Also in double figures for the Gyrenes were Syanne Rowe (12), Macarena Corral (10), and Hunter Chambers (10). Webber's leading scorer was Paris Copeland with 16 points.
Ave Maria is on the road on Saturday, as the Warner University Royals will host the Gyrenes in Lake Wales. Tipoff is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.
