AVE MARIA, Fla. — The Ave Maria Women's Basketball team lost a close one in their final non-conference game of the season to the Mobile Rams. The Gyrenes led for a majority of the game, but the Rams surged late and beat Ave Maria 67-63.
It was a really tight game in the first quarter, with two ties and one lead change between the two teams. Ave Maria got out to a five point lead at one point, but the Rams battled back, scoring the last bucket of the frame to take a 15-14 lead.
The second quarter was just as close, but this time with Ave Maria finishing on top. The Gyrenes opened the quarter with a 7-0 run to get back in front of the Rams. Ave Maria led for the rest of the second quarter, but never got enough separation from Mobile. The Gyrenes' largest lead of the quarter was nine, but went into the break only up by two, leading 33-31.
Out of halftime, Ave Maria held Mobile to just one bucket in the first seven and half minutes of the third quarter. The Gyrenes only managed eight points themselves in that time frame and had a seven point lead. The Rams stormed back in the final minutes of the frame and went on a 9-2 run to tie the game at 43 heading into the fourth quarter.
The game remained even for the first five minutes, with the two teams almost matching each other shot for shot. With four and a half minutes left to play, the Gyrenes were dealt a tough blow after being whistled for a technical foul following a shooting foul. Mobile hit three of their four free throws to take a lead they would never give back.
The Rams then went on a 10-4 run after the free throws to build up a seven point lead. The Gyrenes hit a three late to get back within two possessions, but Mobile responded with a trifecta of their own to ice the game
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The loss drops Ave Maria's record to 6-8 on the year and 4-7 in non-conference games.
Lavariah Armstead led the team with 19 points. Gianna Santacroce was right behind her with 15 points off the bench. Colleen Shanahan was the other Gyrene in double figures with 14 points. Shanahan also led the team in rebounds with a season-high 17. It is her fourth double-double of the season and third in a row.
The Gyrenes are finished with their non-conference schedule and now only have Sun Conference teams on the docket. Ave Maria opens 2025 with two road games, first at Florida Memorial January 4 then at Warner January 8. The next Gyrene home game will January 15 when they host the Keiser Seahawks. All Sun Conference games will be streamed live on the Sun Digital Network.
