KISSIMMEE, Fla.- The Ave Maria University women's basketball team was completely dominant en route to its fifth consecutive win, rolling to a 92-41 win over the Suns of Johnson University Tuesday evening in Kissimmee. The Gyrenes have now gone more than one month since their last regular season loss, winning three non-conference games after two SUN victories. The 51-point margin was AMU's largest in more than two years, since an 88-36 victory over Johnson University on October 26, 2019. 

From the first possession of the game, which saw Lavariah Armstead make a pair of free throws, the Gyrenes were in full control of the Suns. After a Johnson layup cut Ave Maria's lead to 5-2, the Gyrenes proceeded to score the next 18 points, blasting out to a 21-point lead in the first quarter. In total, Ave Maria held the Suns without a field goal for more than eight minutes, and held a comfortable 23-3 lead at the end of the first quarter.

The second quarter proved to be more of the same, as AMU built their lead to 30 points, taking a 45-15 lead into the halftime break. The Gyrenes, who scored at least 20 points in all four quarters on Tuesday, outscored the Suns 22-12 in the second quarter. Ave Maria shot nearly 53 percent from the field in the first half to fuel their lead, a total that included a 55.6 percent mark from three-point territory (5 for 9). 

Ave Maria continued to roll in the second half, scoring 47 points in the final 20 minutes while allowing just 26. Once again, the Gyrenes made more than 50 percent of their field attempts, making 20 shots of 39 attempts. AMU's efforts included a game-high 26 points in the third quarter, which saw the Gyrenes make three of their five long distance tries. 

In total, the Gyrenes shot 52.1 percent from the field, and made 50 percent of their three-point attempts. When the Gyrenes did miss, the frontcourt was able to grab 19 offensive rebounds, accounting for new possessions on more than half of the team's misses. Defensively, AMU forced 20 turnovers, which turned into 31 points, and held the Suns to a 29.6 percent mark from the field.

Four Gyrenes were in double figures in the win, led by 18 points and eight rebounds from Cathreveny Cherestal. Gianna Santacroce again shot the ball well for AMU, making four three-pointers and scoring 14 points. Also in double figures were freshmen Lavariah Armstead (11) and Colleen Shanahan (10). Another freshman, Emily Rapacz, inched towards a double-double with eight points and a team-high six assists. 

AMU returns to the floor Saturday afternoon for a meeting with the Aggies of Oklahoma Panhandle State University. The Aggies currently hold a 3-4 record, and will play two games in the state of Florida, with the first coming on Friday night in Miami Gardens against Florida Memorial. Tip-off between AMU and OPSU, the opener of a men's and women's doubleheader, is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. at Donahue Gym.