BABSON PARK, Fla.- The Ave Maria University women's basketball team missed out on a golden opportunity Wednesday night, falling 76-65 to the Warriors of Webber International University in Babson Park. The loss denied the Gyrenes a chance to clinch a share of The Sun Conference regular season title on Saturday, as Ave Maria will now need a win and results elsewhere to climb back to the top spot in the league.

Both teams came out of the gates fast on Wednesday, with 42 combined points scored in the opening ten minutes. Webber shot 62.5 percent from the field, while the Gyrenes responded with a 56.3 percent mark. Webber made one more field goal than AMU, but a pair of three-pointers from Maria Kuhlman and Gianna Santacroce allowed the Gyrenes to pull even, 21-21, after ten minutes of play.

At times in the second quarter, the Gyrenes looked to be in firm control of their title destiny. Ave Maria started the second quarter on a 13-0 run, building a 26-13 lead. AMU would remain ahead for the remainder of the frame, with the Warriors only able to get as close as seven points. Webber did score the final four points of the half, cutting Ave Maria's lead to 41-34 entering the halftime.

The second half was a nightmare for the Gyrenes, who made just seven field goals in the game's final 20 minutes. Webber outscored Ave Maria 42-24 in the second half, turning a seven-point halftime lead for AMU into an eleven point win for the Warriors. Webber took the lead for good late in the third quarter on a jumper from Jaiden Ross, going up 52-51.

Four Gyrenes were in double figures in the losing effort, led by 13 points from Maria Kuhlman. Casey Humphrey and Colleen Shanahan both scored 12 points, while Santacroce rounded out the quartet with eleven points.

With a 9-4 record, the Gyrenes will conclude the regular season in Georgia on Saturday, facing off with the Mariners of the College of Coastal Georgia. Ave Maria is guaranteed either a home quarterfinal game in next week's Sun Conference Tournament, or a first round bye. AMU will need a win against Coastal Georgia, coupled with a Southeastern loss to Warner and a Keiser loss to Florida Memorial, to get a share of the conference title. Tipoff of the Gyrenes' game against the Mariners is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.