Babson Park, FL – The Webber International Women's Basketball team opened up SUN Conference play against the Ave Maria Gyrenes Saturday afternoon. After a fierce back and forth game, late buckets and free throws helped seal the game in favor of the Warriors, taking down the Gyrenes 67-64.
Neri Moreau scored the first basket for the Warriors after picking up a block. J Curry responded with a three, before Jaiden Ross got on with a layup. Renae Brant and Kori Wimberly scored the next eight with two threes from Brant and a layup from Wimberly. After a free throw from Kahliya Gaitor, Curry hit a fastbreak three and a free throw to give Webber a 20-11 lead heading into the second quarter.
Brant hit another three to start the quarter, but Webber would go scoreless until a jumper from Curry gave Webber the lead back at 25-23. Moreau hit a three with Ross and Brant both making twos, keeping the Warriors ahead 32-29. Gaitor scored the final five points of the half with two shots an a free throw as Webber took a 37-31 lead into the half.
Wimberly and Brant scored first in the third quarter, with Brant breaking another tie to make it 41-39. The Gyrenes were able to take a five point lead, but a three from Gaitor cut it to two points. Ross hit two free throws towards the end of the quarter to bring Webber within two points of Ave Maria at 48-46 heading into the fourth quarter.
After a steal by Gaitor, she took it herself to the rack to tie it at 48-48. After the Gyrenes retook the lead, Curry sank another three ball making it 51-50. Ross then scored the next five points for Webber on two shots and an and-one free throw, putting Webber ahead by two. Wimberly, Curry, and Ross put Webber ahead by five points with less than five minutes left in the game. After the Gyrenes took a one point lead, Curry put Webber ahead again with free throws, giving the Warriors the final lead of the game. Webber would defeat the Gyrenes after a free throw from Ross iced the game at 67-64, and the Warriors walked off the court victorious.
Curry led the team with 18 points, adding three steals and two rebounds. Ross was the next leading scorer with 14 to go along with six boards and two blocks. Brant had thirteen points, five rebounds and four steals, while Gaitor had four rebounds and four steals as well.
The Warriors will be back in action on Wednesday, November 20th when they travel to Miami Gardens to take on the St. Thomas Bobcats in another SUN Conference game.
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