MIAMI GARDENS, Fla.- The Ave Maria University women's basketball team could not dig themselves out of an early hole, and fell 59-44 to the St. Thomas University Bobcats Saturday afternoon in Miami Gardens. The Gyrenes trailed by 13 points after one quarter, and never recovered in their second conference loss of the 2023-24 season.
St. Thomas never trailed against the Gyrenes, knocking down a three-pointer on their first possession of the game to take the lead for good. STU built a 21-8 lead in the first quarter, and led by as many as 18 points in the second before taking a 33-17 lead into the halftime break. The Bobcats' lead swelled to 24 points early in the fourth quarter, and although AMU was able to rally within 12, the Gyrenes did not have enough time to mount a real comeback attempt.
Against one of the top contenders in The Sun Conference, the Gyrenes never found a groove offensively. Ave Maria shot 29.5 percent from the field, and only connected on four of their 18 three-point attempts. AMU also struggled from the free throw line, as only four of their ten attempts found the mark. Ave Maria's defensive efforts were solid however, holding the Bobcats to 35.4 percent shooting from the field and 24.1 percent from long range.
Despite an off day from the floor, grad senior Maria Kuhlman still managed a double-double in the losing effort. The Ponte Vedra Beach native ended the afternoon with 12 points and eleven rebounds, making three of her four attempts from inside the arc. Casey Humphrey added nine points and four assists against the Bobcats, while Katie Ambrose chipped in with eight points, three rebounds, and three assists.
For the first time in the 2023-24 season, the Gyrenes will play an entire week of Sun Conference play on their home floor. The week begins Wednesday, when the Warriors of Webber International University come to the Tom Golisano Field House, with tipoff scheduled for 5:30 p.m.. The first trip through The Sun Conference schedule concludes Saturday in Ave Maria, with the Gyrenes playing host to the Mariners of the College of Coastal Georgia at 2:00 p.m. AMU will attempt to remain unbeaten at New Golisano, winning in their first four tries.
