Wolverines Fall to Ave Maria to Open Florida Trip
Jordan Banks led the team with 18 points in a 94-65 loss.
AVE MARIA, Fla. -- The University of Michigan-Dearborn women's basketball team lost to Ave Maria University 94-65 on Monday (Dec 30) in a road matchup. The Wolverines (0-14) showed some strong individual performances but were ultimately outdone by Ave Maria's high-scoring offense (6-7), which shot nearly 55% from the field and hit nine three-pointers in the win.
First Half:
Ave Maria jumped out to an early lead, holding a 22-20 advantage after the first quarter. UM-Dearborn's defense struggled to contain the Gyrene's offense, particularly the dynamic play of Lavariah Armstead and Colleen Shanahan, who had standout performances throughout the game. The Wolverines struggled to convert from beyond the arc, shooting just 15.3% from three-point range in the first half.
In the second quarter, Ave Maria extended their lead, outscoring Michigan-Dearborn 29-14 to go up by 17 points at halftime. The Fire's shooting efficiency continued to impress, while the Wolverine offense couldn't quite find its rhythm, leaving them trailing 51-34 at the break.
Second Half:
UM-Dearborn regrouped in the third quarter and outscored Ave Maria 22-19. Jordan Banks was the Wolverines' primary offensive threat, scoring 18 points on the night, including several key buckets in the third. However, Ave Maria continued to shoot efficiently, particularly Shanahan, who finished the game with a double-double (28 points, 10 rebounds), and Armstead, who led the Gyrenes with 27 points.
In the final quarter, Ave Maria ended the game with a 24-9 surge. The Wolverine offense struggled to keep pace, and despite a solid effort from several players, the Wolverines could not narrow the gap.
