AVE MARIA, Fla.- The Ave Maria University women's basketball team did not have an answer for one of the nation's best teams on Sunday afternoon, as the Gyrenes fell 101-70 to the Campbellsville University Tigers at Donahue Gym. Campbellsville, who is ranked third in the nation and was ranked first earlier this season, had a sterling offensive performance, shooting 52.9 from three-point territory and making 34 of their 39 free throws.

Ave Maria found themselves in an early hole against the No. 3 Tigers, as Campbellsville raced out to an 8-0 lead in the first 2:20 of the contest. AMU settled themselves for the remainder of the quarter, with the Tigers only outscoring the Gyrenes 11-10 in the final 7:40. Ave Maria's most successful offensive efforts in the opening frame came from long range, as Gianna Santacroce and Maria Kuhlman both knocked down three-pointers.

The second quarter started similar to the first, with a major run from the Tigers. This time, Campbellsville used a three-point barrage to start pulling away from the Gyrenes, hitting four threes in the frame to push their lead out to 46-17 within six minutes. Ave Maria's offensive efforts increased in the second, with AMU putting 16 points on the board to account for a 54-26 halftime score.

Campbellsville's lead grew to 36 points late in the third quarter, but the Gyrenes outscored the Tigers by five in the final 12 minutes to account for the final score. AMU's top scorer in the second half was freshman Mary Smith, who knocked down four three-pointers and scored 15 of her game-high 16 points in the final 20 minutes of play. 

Playing just 13 minutes, Smith's 16 points led all Gyrenes in the losing effort. Kuhlman was right behind the freshman with 15 points, while Casey Humphrey scored ten points to round out a trio of Ave Maria players in double figures. Humphrey also led the Gyrenes with four assists, while AMU's top rebounder was Gianna Santacroce with six.

AMU will have one more game before Christmas, a neutral site game Tuesday with Bethel. The Gyrenes will next take the floor at home at the Gyrene Christmas Classic in Ave Maria. Four teams will converge on Ave Maria for the Classic, including Florida National, Lawrence Tech, and Saint Mary-of-the-Woods. AMU's first opponent in the Classic will be in-state rival Florida National, with that game set for a 5:00 pm tipoff on December 28. The midwestern matchup between Lawrence Tech and Saint Mary-of-the-Woods will precede that game at 3:00 p.m.