AVE MARIA, Fla.- The Ave Maria University women's basketball team had a record-setting day at the free throw line on Monday night, and earned their second consecutive win with a 73-62 triumph over the Warner University Royals. The Gyrenes set a school record with 35 made free throws in the victory, and junior Monica Behrend tied a school record with 12 made free throws.

The first quarter was marked by free throw shooting, as the two teams combined to attempt 21 foul shots. Warner led for the first eight minutes of the frame, but the Gyrenes closed the quarter on a 12-2 run that was capped off by a desperation three-pointer from freshman Catie Reszel that beat the shot clock with 56 seconds left. Reszel's three gave the Gyrenes a 21-16 lead after the opening ten minutes of play. 

Warner had their best quarter in the second, outscoring the Gyrenes 17-13. Ave Maria was able to keep the lead throughout the quarter, and built an 8-point lead with 6:33 on the clock. The Royals held the Gyrenes to just one field goal in the final six minutes of the quarter, and went on a 12-5 run to cut the AMU down lead to one point, 34-33, at the halftime break. 

In the third quarter, the lead changed hands on four different occasions, and neither team led by more than four points. That four point lead was built by the Gyrenes, thanks to a 6-0 run that turned a 42-40 deficit into a 46-42 lead. Ave Maria wound up with the lead at the end of the quarter, as two free throws from Behrend gave AMU a 50-48 lead heading in the fourth quarter. 

Ave Maria pulled away in the fourth quarter, doing much of their work at the free throw line. The Gyrenes scored 12 of their 23 points in the final ten minutes at the line. AMU put the Royals away with a 12-3 run, extending their lead from one point to ten. A three-pointer from Behrend, who scored nine points in the final ten minutes, helped to spark the run that ensured the Gyrenes would earn their third Sun Conference win of the season.

Behrend led the barrage of AMU free throws with a 12-for-12 performance, making her just the second player in school history to be perfect from the foul line with a dozen or more attempts. The junior scored 23 points to lead all scorers. Syanne Rowe followed with a near double-double of 18 points and nine rebounds, while Hunter Chambers added 13 points. Megan Allen had the best rebounding game for any Gyrene this season, pulling down 14 rebounds to go with eight points.

After two consecutive victories over Thomas and Warner, the Gyrenes now are in full control of their destiny to qualify for The Sun Conference Tournament for the fourth year in a row. That quest will continue Thursday night, when AMU travels to Miami Gardens for a meeting with Florida Memorial. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.