AVE MARIA, Fla.- The Ave Maria University women's basketball team started the Alexander Moorehead era on a winning note, thanks to an 85-70 victory over the Florida National University Conquistadors at the Rhodora J. Donahue Academy gymnasium on Thursday night. The Gyrenes led for nearly the entire contest en route to winning the season opener for the seventh year in a row

After Florida National scored the opening basket of the game, a three-pointer from Gianna Santacroce sparked a 10-0 run that gave the Gyrenes the lead for good. During that stretch, Ave Maria's defense kept Florida National on the board for nearly five minutes, and held the Conquistadors to 15 percent shooting from the field. AMU built their lead into double figures, and held a 19-8 lead after the opening ten minutes. 

The Gyrenes had their best offensive showing in the second quarter, putting 23 points on the board before halftime to increase the lead to 42-24. Ave Maria pounded the Conquistadors in the point, shooting 56.3 percent from the field without shooting a three-pointer. The Gyrenes again played well on the defensive end of the floor, as the Conquistadors made just five of 19 field goal attempts.

Ave Maria continued to control the lead throughout the third quarter, building their lead as large as 23 points, 63-40 with under two minutes to play in the frame. Lavariah Armstead was the key to AMU's offensive efforts in the third quarter, as the freshman made all three of her field goal attempts to score ten of AMU's 21 points. Florida National was able to score the final four points of the quarter, cutting the Gyrene lead to 63-44 entering the fourth. 

Thursday's fourth quarter was marked by time at the foul line, as the two teams combined to commit 24 fouls and take 29 free throws. The fourth quarter was the lone frame won by the Conquistadors, with Florida National outscoring the Gyrenes 26-22, despite Ave Maria shooting 63.6 percent from the field. Florida National got as close as ten points to the Gyrenes, but never got within true striking distance in the closing moments of the game. 

All four of Ave Maria's top scorers were either freshman or sophomores, led by 21 points from Armstead, which came on just ten shots. Fellow freshman Casey Humphrey added 19 points, while sophomore Cathreveny Cherestal added 12 points. Gianna Santacroce rounded out the double figure scorers with ten points, while two more freshmen - Emily Rapacz and Colleen Shanahan were Ave Maria's leading rebounders with eight apiece.

AMU's next five games will come away from home, with those five games coming in three different states. The first road game for the Gyrenes comes Tuesday, when Ave Maria heads to Alabama for a meeting with the University of Mobile. The matchup is the second all-time meeting between the schools, with Mobile earning a 66-46 win last season. Tipoff in Mobile is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.