NORTH MIAMI, Fla.- The Ave Maria University women's basketball team started the 2022-23 season with an emphatic victory Thursday night, a 90-40 road triumph over the Eagles of the University of Fort Lauderdale in North Miami. The win marked Ave Maria's largest margin of victory in nearly three years, as AMU's last 50-point win came on November 9, 2019 in an 80-30 home win over Trinity Baptist. It was also the largest margin of victory on the road in almost six years.

Ave Maria asserted themselves from the tip, jumping out to an 11-3 lead in the first five minutes of the game. Other than the first 68 seconds of the game, as well as a 17 second stretch where the game was tied, the Gyrenes led for the entirety of the contest. The Gyrenes scored at least 20 points in all four quarters, holding a 25-8 lead at the end of the first quarter and a 46-19 lead at halftime.

Thursday's onslaught continued in the second half, which saw the Gyrenes shoot 51.5 percent from the field, making 17 of their 33 shots. AMU's defense held Fort Lauderdale to just five field goals on 30 attempts in the second half.

The Gyrenes dominanted in nearly every facet of the game Thursday night, shooting 46.7 percent from the field while holding the Eagles to just ten made field goals over 40 minutes. Ave Maria also rebounded more than half of their misses, grabbing 21 offensive rebounds on 40 missed shots. AMU shared the ball well with 20 assists on 35 made baskets, and turned Fort Lauderdale over 32 times, leading to 26 fast break points and 40 points off turnovers.

All 13 Gyrenes that entered the game played at least nine minutes, and every player scored at least three points. Abbey Phibbs and Monica Behrend led the way with ten points each, while five other AMU players scored eight or more points. Newcomer Grace Field nearly had Ave Maria's first double-double of the season with eight points and eleven rebounds, while Casey Humphrey dished out five assists in the win. 

Saturday afternoon will mark the home opener for the Gyrenes, as well as the first game of the season against an NAIA opponent. Ave Maria will welcome the Buccaneers of the University of the Virgin Islands to Donahue Gym. It will be UVI's first trip to Ave Maria since 2018, when AMU won back-to-back games over the Buccaneers. UVI will be playing their third game in three days as part of the school's first trip of the year to the mainland United States. Tipoff from Donahue Gym is set for 3:00 p.m.