AVE MARIA, Fla.- The Ave Maria University women's basketball team faded in the second half on Thursday evening, falling 91-55 to the Mariners of the College of Coastal Georgia at the Rhodora J. Donahue Academy gymnasium. The Gyrenes trailed by just eight points at halftime, but were outscored 52-24 in the final 20 minutes. Thursday evening's contest was the final meeting of the season between Ave Maria and Coastal Georgia, with the Mariners winning both matchups.
Ave Maria hung around for most of the opening 20 minutes, trailing 21-18 after one quarter and 39-31 at halftime. AMU held an early 9-4 lead less than three minutes into the game, and trimmed a 15-point deficit with just over two minutes to play in the half to eight with a half-ending 7-0 run. Coastal Georgia made just one more field goal than the Gyrenes in the first half, but were slightly more efficient from the field. The Mariners shot 36.4 percent from the field, while AMU posted a 28.9 percent total.
Coastal Georgia dominated in the second half, shooting 58.8 percent from the field and 61.5 percent from three-point territory. The Mariners outscored the Gyrenes 27-15 in the third quarter and 25-9 in the final frame, aiding the visitors to cruise to the conference victory. The fourth quarter included a 23-4 run that spanned the first eight minutes of the frame, extending the CCGA lead from 20 points to 39.
Monica Behrend was the game's high scorer, putting up a career-high 20 points. The sophomore was the only Gyrene in double figures, with the next highest scorer posting nine points (Syanne Rowe). Any effort the Gyrenes had to stay in the game were stymied by a cold shooting night, as AMU shot 26.9 percent from the field and 11.8 percent from long distance. The Gyrenes were able to convert from the free throw line, making 14 in a row to start the game and finishing with 17 makes in 19 tries.
Five Coastal Georgia players were in double figures, led by 16 points from Kaliyah Little. She was joined in double figures by Joyce Jordan (13), Alexis Forbes (12), Ca'vashia Johnson (11), and Nicole Hofmann (11). As a team, the Mariners made ten of their 19 three-point attempts, and shot 47.8 percent from the field.
The Gyrenes will look to get back in the win column on Saturday afternoon with another home game, with this one coming against the Night Hawks of Thomas University. Ave Maria earned their first conference win of the season in the first game against Thomas, defeating the Night Hawks 58-48 in Thomasville on December 3. Tipoff at the Rhodora J. Donahue Academy is scheduled for 2:00 p.m., and is the opening game of a men's and women's doubleheader.
