Ave Maria Women’s Basketball defeated the Fort Lauderdale Eagles 85-43 on Nov. 2, 2026, in North Miami, Florida. Junior Ashley Chilson scored a program-record 35 points to lead Ave Maria to its first win of the season. The result improved Ave Maria to 1-2.
Chilson surpassed the previous Ave Maria single-game scoring record of 34 points, set by Erika Derks in 2010. She also collected 14 rebounds for her third double-double of the season in as many games. Chilson was the only Ave Maria player to reach double figures in rebounds.
Ave Maria pulls away after early tie
Fort Lauderdale tied the game at 10-10, but the Eagles never took a lead. Ave Maria closed the first quarter with an 8-0 run, with Chilson and freshman Ava Zucco scoring on layups during the surge. Ave Maria led 18-10 after one quarter.
Ave Maria created more separation in the second quarter with a 13-0 run that turned a nine-point advantage into a 22-point lead. Chilson scored eight of the 13 points during the stretch, including a 3-pointer. Ave Maria took a 38-20 lead into halftime.
Fort Lauderdale matched Ave Maria more closely in the third quarter, but Ave Maria still extended its advantage by two points to lead 54-34. The Gyrenes then closed the game by outscoring the Eagles 31-9 in the fourth quarter. Nine different Ave Maria players scored in the final 10 minutes as the team went 12-for-20 from the field and 4-for-7 from 3-point range.
Supporting scoring adds to record night
Parker Straub scored 13 points for Ave Maria, while Elena Snyder added 10. Snyder, Straub and Mylee Van De Wouw each made a 3-pointer in the fourth quarter. Van De Wouw also scored the final basket, giving Ave Maria its largest lead of the game at 42 points.
The game was the first meeting between Ave Maria and Fort Lauderdale after their scheduled Oct. 31 matchup was canceled. Monday’s contest therefore became the first meeting between the teams. Ave Maria never trailed after Fort Lauderdale’s 10-10 tie.
Next game
Ave Maria is scheduled to play at Florida National Conquistadors in Hialeah, Florida, on Saturday. Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m., and the game is set to stream live on Florida National’s Hudl page. It is scheduled to be the first of two meetings between Ave Maria and Florida National this season.
FSB Take
Chilson’s 35 points gave Ave Maria its first win of the season while establishing a new program scoring record. Her 14 rebounds also produced a double-double for the third time in three games. With Straub and Snyder joining her in double figures, Ave Maria had multiple scoring contributors in the victory.
Source: Original report