MIAMI GARDENS, Fla.- The Ave Maria University women's basketball team hung around for the better part of two and a half quarters on Thursday evening, but eventually fell 67-54 to the Lions of Florida Memorial University at the FMU Wellness Center. The Gyrenes trailed by just six midway through the third quarter, and lost by just 13 less than two weeks after suffering a 58-point loss to the Lions in the same building.
Playing with something to prove, the Gyrenes came out blazing, as a jumper from Taylor Allen was followed by five straight points from Monica Behrend, giving AMU a 7-0 lead less than two minutes in. Florida Memorial responded with an 11-0 run to claim an 11-7 lead with 4:56 on the clock, but the Gyrenes immediately took the lead back with a 9-0 run of their own. The Gyrenes would hold the lead for the remainder of the quarter, holding an 18-17 edge after ten minutes.
Neither team's offense was as efficient in the second quarter, as the Lions held a 14-10 advantage before halftime. Florida Memorial held a six-point lead with 48 seconds left, thanks to a 7-0 run that saw the Gyrenes held scoreless for more than six minutes. A three-pointer from Hunter Chambers with 25 seconds left cut the Florida Memorial lead to three, 31-28, entering halftime.
Florida Memorial started to pull away in the third quarter, particularly in the final five minutes of the frame. With the Gyrenes within six, 41-35, with 4:24 on the clock, the Lions proceeded to go on a 10-3 run that extended the FMU lead to a game-high 13 points. Two AMU free throws would cut the lead down to eleven, ending a quarter that saw the Lions outscore the Gyrenes, 20-12.
In the fourth quarter, the Gyrenes were never able to mount the comeback they needed, as the FMU lead never dipped below double figures. The Lions only outscored Ave Maria 16-14 in the final ten minutes of the contest, but the Gyrenes were unable to string together enough stops and scores to threaten FMU on their home court.
For the second game in a row, Monica Behrend was the leading scorer for the Gyrenes. The junior had 14 points, while Syanne Rowe followed with a double-double of 13 points and ten rebounds. Taylor Allen was the final of AMU's three double figure scorers, putting ten points on the board. Chantel Barnett led all scorers with 24 points, and conference Player of the Year candidate Keaynna Tolbert had 18 points, seven rebounds, and six assists.
Ave Maria returns to Miami Gardens on Saturday, with the Bobcats of St. Thomas University awaiting as the opponent. It is the second meeting this season between the two Catholic institutions in The Sun Conference, with STU claiming a 77-62 victory in Miami Gardens on January 2, and the third meeting coming in Ave Maria on February 15. The second meeting will tip off at 2 p.m. Saturday on the STU campus.
