LAKE WALES, Fla.- The Ave Maria University women's basketball team raced out to a 16-point first quarter lead, but could not sustain the effort in a 63-57 loss to the Warner University Royals at the Turner Athletic Center in Lake Wales. The Gyrenes led by 13 points at halftime, but were outscored 45-26 in the second half, suffering their second Sun Conference loss of the season.
AMU started the game on fire, scoring the contest's first eleven points and keeping the Royals off the board for more than four minutes. In addition to the opening 11-0 run, the Gyrenes also went on a 9-0 run after the Royals had chipped their way back within seven. That 16 point lead would be the largest of the game for either team. Warner made a three-pointer on the final possession of the quarter to cut the AMU lead to 21-8.
Neither team did much offensively in the second quarter, with both sides shooting under 30 percent from the field. Ave Maria's lead never dipped below nine points in the second, but AMU wasn't able to extend the lead either, leading by no more than 14. A Grace Field jumper with 5:33 remaining would be the final field goal for either team in the half, with Ave Maria holding a 31-18 lead at the break.
The third quarter proved to be disastrous for the Gyrenes. Ave Maria's lead vanished within seven minutes, and the Royals would go on to outscore AMU 25-7 in the third quarter to take a five-point lead into the fourth. Warner's rally was the result of hot shooting from the Royals, who made nine of their 17 shots in the frame, coupled with an ice cold stretch from the Gyrenes, who missed nine of their eleven shots.
Despite the disastrous third, the Gyrenes did not go away. AMU started the fourth on a 7-0 run to reclaim the lead, and eventually led by five points with 4:15 to play. However, Warner ended the game on a 15-4 run, taking the lead for good on a layup with 1:12 to play. AMU missed their final eight shots in the last two minutes, including five layups and three three-pointers.
Grace Field continued to be the lynchpin of the Gyrenes, leading AMU with 21 points and 13 rebounds. The sophomore rarely came off the floor, playing 37 minutes Saturday afternoon. The only other Gyrene in double figures was guard Abbey Phibbs, who made four of her five field goal attempts, including a three-pointer, to finish with eleven points.
Ave Maria finishes their first trip through the Sun Conference with a 6-2 record in league play, good for second place, where the Gyrenes are in a three-way tie with St. Thomas and Warner. AMU returns to the floor on Thursday, heading north to Lakeland to take on the Southeastern Fire. Ave Maria defeated the Fire, who hold a 5-3 conference record, at home back in November, ending SEU's streak of 108 straight regular season conference wins. Tipoff is slated for 5:30 p.m. at The Furnace.
