Ave Maria, FL- The Women's Basketball team played their last contest of 2018 but could not come up with their 11th win of the season as they dropped a tough loss to the Ave Maria Gyrenes (12-2), 56-47 at the Tom Golisano Field House in Ave Maria, FL. The loss drops the Falcons to 10-4 this season.

Both the Falcons and the Gyrenes started cold in the first quarter as each team missed the majority of their shots the first ten minutes as the score was just 8-6 in one quarter of action with the home team with the advantage. The Gyrenes jumped ahead by five at the start of the second frame, 11-6, but the Falcons answered right back and took their first lead of the quarter on a Kellie Gaston (Tampa, FL) lay-up going up 18-17. Neither team could find separation before halftime as both teams maintained a lead in the second frame, while AMU took a 22-20 lead heading into the break.

The Gyrenes came out of the half scoring the first five points of the third, going up 27-20, but back-to-back lay-ups from Misha O'Neal (Tampa, FL) brought the Falcons back to within three at 28-25. The remainder of the quarter was a seesaw battle as the Gyrenes tried to pull away, but the Falcons kept clawing their way back and the two teams headed to the 4th quarter with the home team up 38-34. Maura Lammers (Augusta, GA) hit the first basket of the 4th to pull her squad to within two at 38-36, but that was the closest the Falcons would get as they would fall 56-47. Foul trouble proved to be a factor in the fourth quarter as two Falcons fouled out, allowing for 10 of the Gyrenes 18 points in the fourth to be scored by way of the foul line. The Falcons had their opportunities as they created 55 shots, but were only able to hit 18, shooting just 32.7% from the floor. 

Jenny-Lynn Eggers (Sonoma, CA) and Piper Mali (Oro Valley, AZ) each tallied 10 points to lead the way offensively for the Falcons, while Jocelyn Mendoza (Morgan Hill, CA) played well defensively for her squad as she led the team with eight boards and three steals in the losing effort.  Sarah Miller led the way for the Gyrenes as she earned another double-double on the season, while Danielle Weinmann dropped 17 in the victory. 

The two teams will play again on New Year's Day, which will wrap up the Florida road trip for the Falcons, with tip off slated for 2:00 p.m.