AVE MARIA, Fla. — The Ave Maria Women's Basketball team dropped their first game in Tom Golisano Field House since the reopening of the gym back in December of 2023. The Gyrenes couldn't hold on to a late lead against the LSU Alexandria Generals and lost 67-65.
Ave Maria started off hot, racing out to an eight-point lead in the first five minutes, their largest of the game. LSUA stormed back however and went on a 14-0 run to end the quarter and take a 20-14 lead.
On the first possession of the second quarter, Gianna Santacroce hit a three for Ave Maria's first bucket since the midway point of the opening frame. It took almost the entire quarter, but the Gyrenes worked their way back into the lead. With just under three minutes left to play in the half, transfer Gabby Beauperthuy hit a layup to put Ave Maria back on top 31-30.
The lead bounced back and forth a few more times between the two teams before the half. With 16 seconds left, LSUA hit two free throws to go up 37-35. Ave Maria got one more chance with the ball and after an initial miss, Santacroce got an offensive board and put the second chance points in to send the game to halftime tied at 37. The Gyrenes ended the first half with 11 second chance points off seven offensive rebounds.
Knotted up after 20 minutes, the Gyrenes came out swinging in the third quarter. Ave Maria outscored LSUA 18-12 in the frame to build up a six point lead. Lavariah Armstead led the team in scoring in the third quarter with eight points. Eight points more points came from the charity stripe from other Gyrenes.
In the fourth quarter, Ave Maria tried to sit on their lead, but the Generals surged back. The Gyrenes were in front for most of the frame, but with 20 seconds remaining in the game, LSUA completed the comeback and tied the game at 65.
On the ensuing Ave Maria possession, Casey Humphrey got fouled which sent her to the line for two shots. It was the first trip to the line for Humphrey, who has the fifth-most free throws in program history. However, two misses kept the game tied at 65.
LSUA got fouled on the next possession and hit both of their free throws to take the lead with two seconds remaining. Ave Maria called their last timeout to advance the ball past the half court line.
With two seconds left, Armstead found Emily Rapacz who got free of her defender and drove to the hoop. Rapacz got the layup off in time but clanked it off the rim as time expired.
It is the first home loss since the reopening of the Tom Golisano Field House, ending an 11-game win streak in the new gym.
Santacroce led the team with 21 points, the most points for her in a game since December 30, 2022, in her sophomore season. Armstead and Colleen Shanahan also hit double figures, both with 10 points. Shanahan led the team with 10 rebounds, registering her first double-double of the season.
The loss evens up Ave Maria's record at 1-1.
The Gyrenes return to the court Saturday, November 16, on the road against the Webber Warriors. It is the start of conference play for the Gyrenes, who will play 16 conference games this year. Tipoff is set 2 p.m. and the game will be streamed live on the Sun Digital Network.
