OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla.- The Ave Maria University women's basketball team played even with one of the nation's top 20 teams on Wednesday, but ran out of steam in the second half in a 110-87 loss to Mid-American Christian University in Oklahoma City. The Gyrenes led by as many as six points in the second quarter, but the Sooner Athletic Conference title contenders pulled away in the second half to drop the Gyrenes to 2-2.

Ave Maria stood toe-to-toe with the Evangels in the first quarter, as neither team led by more than three points for the first five minutes of the contest. Mid-America Christian used a 9-0 run in the middle of the frame to open up a six-point lead, but the Gyrenes didn't let the hosts extend the lead any further than that. MACU did hold the lead for the remainder of the frame, leading 23-19 at the end of the first quarter.

In the second quarter, the Gyrenes immediately scored six straight points, taking the lead back at 25-23 thanks to a third consecutive layup from Lavariah Armstead. AMU would hold that lead for most of the second quarter, leading by as many as six at 38-32. MACU followed with another 9-0 run to take the lead  back, but a layup from Emily Rapacz trimmed the Evangel lead to one, 41-40, at halftime.

Mid-America Christian emerged from halftime with a purpose, and started the second half on a 17-0 run to turn a one-point game into an 18-point lead for the hosts. Ave Maria was never again able to get the MACU lead down below ten points, thanks to 69 second half points from the Evangels. Mid-America Christian shot almost 61 percent from the field in the second half, cruising to their 23-point win.

AMU's offensive output was solid against MACU, with four players reaching double figures. Vari Armstead led the way with 18 points, while Casey Humphrey followed with 15 points and a team-high six rebounds. Maria Kuhlman (14) and Ava Murphy (12) were also in double figures. The Gyrenes did outscore the Evangels 27-21 from beyond the arc, but were outscored 60-36 in the paint. 

The Gyrenes will have just over 24 hours to regroup before their second game of the team's westward swing. Ave Maria will journey to Guthrie, Oklahoma for a meeting with Langston University. Langston is currently 3-0, with wins over Oklahoma Wesleyan University, Bethany College, and Kansas Wesleyan University. Tipoff from the Sooner State is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. local time, 7:00 p.m. eastern time.