SAU struggles offensively in loss to No. 15 St. Francis
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
St. Ambrose (IA) (8-9, 5-4) | 11 | 9 | 19 | 6 | 45 |
|
#15 St. Francis (IL) (17-1, 9-1) | 15 | 24 | 21 | 14 | 74 |
Playing the conference-leading and No. 15-ranked team in the country, St. Ambrose needed several things to go right.
Unfortunately for the Bees, a poor-shooting night ended any upset hopes early in a 74-45 loss at St. Francis Wednesday in Joliet, Ill.
St. Ambrose (8-9, 5-4 CCAC) shot just 27 percent from the floor, a number that was boosted thanks to a strong third quarter.
Defense kept SAU in the game early.
St. Francis (17-1, 9-1 CCAC) made just four of its first 21 shots from the field. And an Abby Wolter layup put SAU in front 11-10 with a minute left in the opening quarter.
But the Bees, who shot just 4-of-16 in the period, were unable to capitalize and the Saints ended the quarter with two straight baskets, including a 3-pointer, to steal a 15-11 lead after one.
USF carried momentum into the second quarter, scoring the first 10 points, to go in front 25-11. A Payton Calouette layup ended that run, but that was immediately followed by an 11-0 Saints spurt that extended the margin to 36-13.
Trailing 39-20 at the half, the Bees put together a big third quarter behind eight points from Jayla Stirgus. But the 19-point period, behind nearly 47-percent shooting, was outdone by a 21-point USF quarter. The Saints were 7-of-11 from the field in the third to take a 60-39 lead into the final quarter.
The Bees didn't threaten in the fourth.
St. Ambrose was just 17-of-63 overall and 5-of-23 (21.7 percent) from beyond the arc in the game.
Stirgus led SAU with 13 points. Wolter also finished in double figures with 12 points. She also grabbed eight rebounds.
Caitlyn Thole totaled five points, eight rebounds and four assists. Calouette, Olivia Harter and Erin Jolin each scored four points. Elly Doe dropped in three.
The Bees will visit Saint Xavier Saturday.