MIAMI GARDENS, Fla.- The Ave Maria University women's basketball team could not overcome their turnovers on Saturday, falling for the first time this season in Sun Conference play. The Gyrenes suffered a 91-68 defeat at the hands of the Lions of Florida Memorial University at the FMU Wellness Center in Miami Gardens. FMU outscored the Gyrenes in three of the four quarters on Saturday, with the only exception a 19-19 third quarter.
The Gyrenes found themselves in an early hole on Saturday, as Florida Memorial outscored AMU by margins of 22-14 and 24-12 in the first two quarters. The Lions used several runs to open up their 46-26 halftime lead, including a 13-3 surge in the first quarter and a 16-4 run in the second. Ave Maria's turnover issues were evident in the opening 20 minutes, as AMU committed 13 turnovers.
Ave Maria tried to make a game of it in the second half, getting a 27-point deficit down to 15 midway through the fourth quarter. After FMU built the 27-point lead, Ave Maria responded with a 7-0 run to conclude the third quarter. Florida Memorial built their lead back to 25 in the fourth, but the Gyrenes responded with a 12-2 run, albeit a run that came with the game all but decided.
Florida Memorial turned Ave Maria's 21 turnovers into 22 points, and led to numerous layups. The Lions scored 71 of their 91 points either in the paint or from the free throw line. Florida Memorial also made better use of their attempts from the foul stripe, making all 17 free throw tries while Ave Maria shot just above 50 percent, making nine of 16 free throw attempts.
Grace Field had another productive game despite the defeat, logging 20 points and 14 rebounds. Casey Humphrey was in double figures for the second time this week with 14 points, while Emily Rapacz added ten points, six rebounds, and four assists. Field and Rapacz, along with Allison Fifield, accounted for 27 of Ave Maria's 38 rebounds.
Despite the loss, the Gyrenes remain near the top of The Sun Conference standings, sitting just a half game behind first place Florida Memorial. Two more conference games are on the schedule for next week, beginning back at Donahue Gym on Thursday. Ave Maria will play host to the Seahawks of Keiser University, in a rematch of last season's SUN quarterfinals. Tipoff from Ave Maria is slated for 5:30 p.m.
