Naples Standard

The Ave Maria University women's basketball team could not overcome turnover issues and a poor day at the free throw line on Saturday, falling 61-56 to the Webber International Warriors at Donahue Gym. The Gyrenes, who also missed all ten of their three-point attempts, shot just 41.7 percent from the charity stripe, missing 14 free throws in a game that saw the Gyrenes fall by just five points.

Early on, both teams looked inside to get the scoring going. In the opening ten minutes, forward Isabella Starzyk scored eight of AMU's 14 points, while Webber post players Rushell Jacob and Alisha Walker combined for eight of Webber's 12 points. Two of Starzyk's layups came as part of an 8-0 Gyrene run, which allowed Ave Maria to hold a 14-12 lead heading into the second quarter.

Ave Maria's offense skidded to a halt in the second quarter, as the Gyrenes scored just seven points in the ten minutes before the half. The Gyrenes had as many turnovers (11) as shots attempted, and missed five of their six free throw attempts. This allowed the Warriors to outscore the Gyrenes 15-7 in the second, a stretch that included a 13-0 run for Webber. Thanks to their effort in the second quarter, Webber held a 27-21 lead at the break.

Trailing by six at halftime, the Gyrenes turned to their leading scorer to get back in the game. Grace Field scored nine of Ave Maria's first 15 points in the second half, pushing AMU back in front. Abbey Phibbs stepped up as well in the third, scoring twice in the final 75 seconds. Both of Phibbs' makes gave the Gyrenes the lead at the time, including a layup on the final possession of the third that gave the Gyrenes a 40-38 lead with ten minutes to play. 

Another Webber run, similar to the one in the second quarter, would prove to be the difference in the game. Webber scored eight unanswered points after trailing by five in the fourth, and outscored the Gyrenes 23-16 in the final frame. AMU did have one chance to tie the game in the final minute, but a three-pointer missed the mark and Webber made enough free throws to seal the deal.

As has become the norm this season, Grace Field led the way for the Gyrenes. The New York native led all scorers with 19 points, and narrowly missed out on a double-double with nine rebounds. Powered by her dominant first quarter, Isabella Starzyk added eleven points for the Gyrenes, and evened Field's total at the top of the rebounds column with nine. 

After falling twice this week, the Gyrenes will look to right the ship next week, which marks the program's annual swing through south Georgia. The first of AMU's two games in the Peach State will come Thursday, when Ave Maria battles the Mariners of the College of Coastal Georgia. The road trip concludes Saturday, as AMU heads to Thomasville for a matchup with the Night Hawks of Thomas University. 

Original source can be found here.