AVE MARIA, Fla. — The Ave Maria Women's Basketball team won their second game against the Florida National Conquistadors this year, sweeping the season series. The Gyrenes had a surge of offense in the third quarter which sealed the game as they went on to win 71-46.
Ave Maria started off strong in the first quarter on both sides of the court. On the offensive side, Ashley Chilson scored the first six points of the game with two field goals and two free throws. Elena Barnes and Gabby Beauperthuy added layups to get the Gyrenes up to 10 points. On the other side of the floor, the Gyrene defense clamped down on the Conquistadors and didn't allow a basket in the first six and half minutes of the game. Florida National missed their first eight shots and turned the ball over five times.
FNU scrounged eight points before the end of the frame and the Gyrenes had a 15-8 lead at the end of one.
The second quarter was closer that the first, with Ave Maria outscoring the Conquistadors by just one point compared to the seven point margin in the first quarter. Florida National worded the deficit down to a one-possession game but never took the lead. The Gyrenes rallied at the end of the frame and took an eight-point lead into halftime.
The third quarter was the best of the game for the Gyrenes and the second-highest scoring frame of the season for Ave Maria. Beauperthuy led the charge in the third quarter, scoring a half of the Gyrenes' 24 points in the quarter and more than doubling her game total. The senior from Colorado Springs knocked down three shots from the field, with one of them being from behind the arc, and went a perfect 5-for-5 from the free throw line.
Ave Maria grew their lead from eight points to 19 after the high-scoring third quarter and kept building on it in the fourth. The Gyrenes scored 19 points in the final frame and ended the game with their largest lead of the night at 25.
Beauperthuy led the team with a career-high 27 points. The senior also recorded a double-double by leading the team in rebounds as well with 16 boards.
Two other Gyrenes hit double figures with Chilson scoring 16 points and Barnes scoring 14. Barnes also recorded a double-double along with Beauperthuy, collecting 11 rebounds. Barnes also led the team in assists with five.
Ave Maria improves to 4-4 with the win and 1-1 at home.
The Gyrenes will take a week off before returning to the road and taking a quick trip up to Winter Park to battle the Rollins Tars in an exhibition game. The next countable game for the Gyrenes will be back at home at the Tom Golisano Field House as they host the Bethel Pilots. It will be the first matchup between the Gyrenes and the Pilots since 2017.
Tipoff for that game is set for 2 p.m. and the game will be streamed live on the Urban Edge Network.
