THOMASVILLE, Ga. — The Ave Maria Women's Basketball team needed a fifth frame but got the win over Thomas taking down the Night Hawks 68-64 in overtime. Ashley Chilson shined on the court for the Gyrenes, being the first player since 2023 to score 20 or more points and grab down 20 or more rebounds.
The first quarter did not start out too hot for the Gyrenes as Thomas won the frame 16-9. The Night Hawks built up an 8-0 lead over the first four minutes of the game before the Gyrenes got on the board with a free throw from Chilson. Ave Maria did get two threes from Gabby Beauperthuy and Parker Straub to pull within seven points after the first ten minutes.
The Gyrenes came roaring back in the second quarter, outscoring the Night Hawks 19-9. Back-to-back threes from Beauperthuy and Straub again brought the Gyrenes within one of Thomas and they stayed on their heels for the rest of the quarter. Ave Maria finally pulled even with Thomas for the first time since the opening tip with a jumper from Chilson with a minute left to play in the half. On the final possession of the quarter, Straub launched a deep three right at the buzzer that swished through the net and gave the Gyrenes their very first lead of the game. Heading into the break, the Gyrenes were up 28-25.
Ave Maria held onto the lead for a good chunk of the third quarter, but the Night Hawks snatched it back on the last possession, giving the Gyrenes a little taste of their own medicine from the second quarter.
Thomas grew their lead to six points in the opening minutes of the fourth, but the Gyrenes fought back and took a 53-52 lead with just a little under five minutes left to play. Ave Maria held onto the lead for three minutes, but the Night Hawks challenged one more time, taking a 60-59 lead with 58 seconds left. Following a foul from the Night Hawks, Chilson hit a free throw to even the game up for the fifth time. Both teams missed a three and the game headed for overtime.
In almost a microcosm of regulation, Thomas took an early lead in the extra frame, the Gyrenes worked their way in front, and then the Night Hawks tied it once more. The decisive blow finally came with 26 seconds remaining. A Thomas foul sent Tiffany Le to the charity stripe and the senior buried both free throws. The Night Hawks missed a layup on the other end of the court and Elena Barnes knocked down two more free throws to ice the game.
Chilson led the team both offensively and defensively with 21 points and 20 rebounds. It is just the fifth time a Gyrene has scored 20 or more points and hauled in 20 or more rebounds, and the first time since Grace Field did it against St. Thomas on January 5, 2023. It is her fourth double-double of the season.
Two more Gyrenes hit double figures with Beauperthuy scoring 12 and Straub scoring 11. Beauperthuy also recorded a double-double with 10 rebounds, her second double-double of the year. Both players tied for the team lead in three-pointers with three.
With the win, Ave Maria improves to 3-4 on the year and finishes their two-game trip in the Peach State with a 1-1 record.
The Gyrenes head back down to Southwest Florida where they will prepare for back-to-back home games to start the month of December. The first game is an exhibition against NCAA Division II Barry, which is slated for Monday December 1. The next game that counts for the Gyrenes is December 3 as they will play host to the Florida National Conquistadors. Ave Maria traveled to FNU back in October where they got their first win of the season. Tipoff for that game is set for 5:30 p.m. and it will be streamed live on the Urban Edge Network.
