AVE MARIA, Fla.- The Ave Maria University women's basketball team hit a season-high eight three-pointers on Monday night, but fell just short of an upset win over the Keiser University Seahawks at the Rhodora J. Donahue Academy gymnasium. The Seahawks upended the Gyrenes, 55-46, in the second meeting of the season between the two teams.
Keiser jumped out to a 10-2 lead in the first six minutes of the game, as the Gyrenes were held to four missed shots and seven turnovers. Ave Maria responded by scoring the next six points on a Taylor Allen three, a Hunter Chambers free throw, and a Megan Allen layup. Keiser scored the first points of the quarter on an Emily Patton layup, giving the Seahawks a 12-8 lead after the first ten minutes.
The Seahawks remained in control in the second quarter, building their lead to as many as eleven points. Keiser outscored Ave Maria 14-9 in the second quarter, with their lead ranging from five to eleven. Keiser's first half lead was powered by their defense, as AMU was held to a 19.2 percent mark from the field and a 10 percent mark from three-point territory. Conversely, the Seahawks shot 38.1 percent from the field and 42.9 percent from long range.
Hunter Chambers caught fire at the beginning of the third quarter, hitting three triples in the first 90 seconds to tie the game at 26. Keiser, however, immediately responded with an 8-0 run to build their lead back to eight points. After Ave Maria scored six unanswered points to cut the deficit back to two, the Seahawks ended the quarter on a 9-3 run to take a 43-35 lead into the final frame.
In the fourth quarter, the Seahawks looked to have the game well in hand, leading 51-39 with 3:37 to play. The Gyrenes made it interesting with seven unanswered points on two Chambers threes and a Taylor Allen free throw, cutting the KU lead to 51-46 with 1:40 to go. Keiser then essentially put the game away with an Emily Patton three-pointer with 1:23 on the clock, with a free throw from Chiara De Virgilio accounting for the final point.
Chambers became just the eighth player in AMU history to make six three-pointers in a game, leading the Gyrenes with 19 points in the losing effort. Megan Allen just missed a double-double, pulling down eleven rebounds to go with nine points. Keiser was led by Emily Patton, who made three three-pointers of her own and finished with 18 points.
Ave Maria will have an opportunity to clinch their spot in The Sun Conference Tournament on Thursday, when the Gyrenes travel to Lake Wales for a meeting with the Warner University Royals. A win would ensure that AMU would play in the postseason for the fourth consecutive season. Tipoff in Lake Wales is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
