WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.- The Ave Maria University women's basketball pulled off an emotional upset on Saturday afternoon, stunning the Keiser University Seahawks, 50-49, in West Palm Beach. Powered by a Monica Behrend three-pointer with 73 seconds left and a defensive stop in the final 23 seconds of the game, the Gyrenes won on the two-year anniversary of the passing of former women's basketball player Emily Acosta.

Ave Maria started fast on Saturday afternoon, racing out to a 19-11 lead in the first ten minutes of the contest. The Gyrenes led for the final nine minutes of the opening quarter, after a Behrend three-pointer gave AMU a 3-2 lead one minute in. AMU scored on their final two possessions of the frame, as a Syanne Rowe layup and a jumper from Taylor Allen gave the Gyrenes their biggest lead at eight.

The Gyrenes extended that run to 9-0 with the first five points of the second quarter, scoring the first five points of the frame. From there, Keiser chipped their way back into the game, outscoring AMU 15-6 for the remainder of the quarter. That included a 7-2 run to end the quarter, with two free throws from Antigonie Sanabria cutting the Ave Maria lead down to 30-26 at halftime.

Keiser kept up the momentum in the third quarter, claiming a 41-38 lead entering the fourth quarter by holding the Gyrenes to just eight points. After two free throws from Rowe gave Ave Maria a 32-26 lead with 8:51 left, the Seahawks scored the next seven points to take the lead, 33-32. The deficit would not grow larger than three points for the remainder of quarter, setting up a dramatic fourth quarter. 

In the fourth quarter, Keiser led by as many as five points, 47-42, with 6:59 to play. From there, the Gyrenes clamped down defensively allowing just two points in the final six minutes. Down by two with 1:13 to play, Behrend knocked down the biggest three of her career to give AMU a one-point lead. The teams traded possessions, and Keiser had one final chance with 23 seconds left. Chiara de Virgilio's game-winner attempt was rebounded by Hunter Chambers, sparking an AMU celebration.

Taylor Allen was Ave Maria's leading scorer, logging 15 points and five assists. Her twin sister, Megan Allen, grabbed 16 rebounds, the highest for any AMU player this season. Chambers was also in double figures with 12 points. Behrend's game-winner gave her nine points on the afternoon, while Rowe was in double-double territory with seven points and eight rebounds. Keiser relied on Sanabria, who had 14 points and nine rebounds, and De Virgilio, who scored ten points.

With the momentum from Saturday, the Gyrenes enter The Sun Conference Tournament as the number seven seed. Ave Maria will take on second seeded St. Thomas on Tuesday night in the conference quarterfinals. The winner of Tuesday night's game will advance to the conference semifnals on Friday, which will held at the home venue of the highest remaining seed.