AVE MARIA, Fla.- The Ave Maria University women's basketball team found another way to win Saturday afternoon, coming up big in the final minute for a 77-74 victory over the Mariners of the College of Coastal Georgia. The win was Ave Maria's first-ever victory over Coastal Georgia in Ave Maria, topping the Mariners on AMU's home floor for the first time in six tries. The win also moved Ave Maria to 4-0 in Sun Conference play for the first time since the 2018-19 season.
The Gyrenes got off to a quick start, taking an early 7-2 lead in the first five minutes of the contest by shutting down the Mariners defensively. However, AMU went cold from there themselves, making just two field goals in the final five minutes of the frame, allowing Coastal Georgia to take the lead. The Mariners outscored the Gyrenes 18-7 in the second portion of the opening frame, opening up a 20-14 lead after ten minutes of play.
Coastal Georgia added to their lead at the start of the second quarter, eventually holding a ten-point lead of 27-17. From there, AMU chipped their way back into the game, although the Gyrenes weren't able to secure the lead by halftime. Gianna Santacroce knocked down a three-pointer on AMU's final possession of the first half, cutting the Coastal Georgia lead to 38-37 at the break.
Ave Maria scored on their first possession of the third quarter, taking the lead on a Colleen Shanahan layup. The Gyrenes led for a majority of the third quarter, but couldn't put much distance between themselves and the Mariners. The AMU lead never grew above six points before Coastal Georgia was able to rally and retake the lead. The lead changed hands five times in the final 1:17 of the half, ending with Coastal holding a 57-56 lead with ten minutes to play.
A wild fourth quarter featured 13 lead changes, ending the night with 19 total lead changes. Neither team led by more than three points in the final ten minutes, with the game coming down to the final 30 seconds. An Emily Rapacz layup gave Ave Maria a 75-74 lead, and Rapacz forced a jump ball on the other end to give AMU the ball back. After two Grace Field free throws pushed the Gyrene lead to three, Field came up with the steal on the other end. The Gyrenes missed two free throws to seal the game, but a last-second attempt to tie the game by Coastal Georgia missed the mark.
Grace Field had an extremely productive game for the Gyrenes, posting a double-double of 20 points and eleven rebounds. The New York native, who also led the Gyrenes with four assists, did much of her work from the foul line, making 12 consecutive free throws at one point. Colleen Shanahan added 14 points of her own, while four other Gyrenes scored between seven and nine points.
Off to a 4-0 start in Sun Conference play, the Gyrenes now break from SUN action for a series of non conference matchups. Each of Ave Maria's next eight games will be against a non-league opponent, with SUN play resuming January 5 against St. Thomas. The first of these non-conference games comes Monday, when the Gyrenes welcome the Falcons of Kansas Christian College to Donahue Gym. Tipoff in the opening game of a doubleheader is slated for 6:00 p.m.
