LAKELAND, Fla – The stakes were simple for the Ave Maria Women's Basketball team: beat Southeastern, have Webber lose to Warner, and the Gyrenes are in the Sun Conference Tournament. AMU got help from the friends in Lake Wales as the Royals beat the Warriors, but the Gyrenes could not get it done against the first place Fire, falling 84-65.
Elena Barnes put the Gyrenes on the board early in the first quarter. A minute later, Ashley Chilson scored a layup to put the Gyrenes up 4-0. The Fire knocked down a long three shortly after. With 7:00 minutes left in the quarter, Cortney Smith knocked down her first three of the night, putting the Gyrenes up 7-3. In the following possession Southeastern connected from deep once again, starting an 11-0 run. With 2:37 left in the period, Barnes connected from behind the arc. Both teams traded offensive possessions. The fire ended the quarter with a 27-14 lead.
The second period started with a Chilson 4-point play, swishing a three and free throw attempt. The Fire responded with an 8-0 run, knocking down two threes in the progress. With 7:51 left in the period, Smith knocked down her second three of the game. Southeastern responded with another 8-0 run. Both teams converted on good looks on the offensive end. The Fire went into the locker room up 50-25.
The third period started with a Chilson layup. With 8:38 left in the period, Smith knocked down another three-ball. Smith's three started an 8-2 run for the Gyrenes, with help from Gabby Beauperthuy, and Barnes. With 4:38 left in the period, Parker Straub connected from beyond the arc. Smith swished a three to end the quarter. The Fire headed into the final ten minutes up 67-47.
Southeastern took the start of the fourth quarter by storm, knocking down three consecutive three-pointers. A successful trip to the line for Smith ended a SEU 11-0 run. With 5:12 left in the game, Barnes found an open Chilson who connected from long range. The three started a 16-4 run for the Gyrenes, topped off by a Smith three to end the quarter. The Fire finished with an 84-65 win.
Smith led the team in scoring with a career-high 21 points, knocking down five triples in the game. Three other Gyrenes hit double figures as Barnes scored 15 and Beauperthuy and Chilson each scored 13.
With the loss, Ave Maria finishes the season with a 10-12 record overall and a 7-9 record in conference play. The Gyrenes finished tied with the Warriors for sixth place, but Webber owns the tiebreaker having won both head-to-head matchups in the regular season. The tiebreaker unfortunately ends a nine-year streak of making the Sun Conference Tournament for the Gyrenes.
Ave Maria now patiently waits for November to start the 26-27 season.
