Ave Maria Edges WIU for Championship
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – Ave Maria captured the 2013-14 Sun Conference Women’s Basketball Championship presented by Shula’s Hotel and Golf Club with a 70-69 win over Webber International on Saturday afternoon at the Fernandez Family Center. The Gyrenes were led by Madison McDonald who had a game-high 17 points and hit the game-winning field goal.
Annie Artise scored 15 points on 6-of-10 shooting, including three three-pointers for Ave Maria. Amber Frounfelter and Lauren Peters each had 10 points for the Gyrenes.
Jasmine Singleton scored 14 points and Laquandra Brazil scored 13 points and pulled down seven rebounds for Webber International.
Down 69-68 in the penultimate possession after a jumper by WIU’s Alishia Kahan put the Warriors ahead, McDonald drove to the basket and hit what proved to be the game-winner with 23 seconds remaining. After a WIU timeout, the Gyrenes forced a missed shot by the Warriors in the final seconds to take the win.
The Gyrenes were red hot shooting in the first half hitting 10 three-pointers on 16 attempts. Back-to-back three-pointers by Erin Murphy and Annie Artise gave AMU at 24-12 lead with 10:51 to play until intermission. The threes continued to rain down throughout the half, including a three-pointer just before intermission by Ashlee Rioux to give the Gyrenes a 14-point lead.
The Warriors came out of the half with a 12-4 run capped off by a three-pointer by Jasmine Singleton to cut the lead to five points. WIU took the lead for the first time in the half on a layup by Sarah Dileonardo that made the score 62-61 with 4:39 to play. Another three-pointer by Singleton gave the Warriors a five-point with 3:13 left in regulation.
The Gyrenes rallied back with a three-pointer by Annie Artise and play by Cassie Krieger where she made a free throw after being fouled on a made layup that gave AMU a 68-67 lead with 1:25 to play.
With the win, Ave Maria earns an automatic bid to the NAIA Women’s Basketball Division II National Championships.