The St. Ambrose starters set the tone early as the Bees moved to 4-4 in the CCAC with a 69-51 win at Trinity International Saturday afternoon.

The five SAU starters combined for 25 of the team's 26 points in the opening quarter to help St. Ambrose open up a 26-12 lead. It was a sign of things to come as the starting unit totaled 64 points in helping the Bees claim their second straight victory.

Aubrie Carlisle hit all four of her first-quarter field goal attempts to help SAU take control from the opening tip. Carlisle, Hailey Cook and Reeann McCarty each scored as part of an 8-0 run that helped St. Ambrose to a 14-point lead in the first period.

With a 14-point lead after 10 minutes, the Bees coasted from there. A 14-0 spurt capped by a Carlisle 3-pointer helped SAU open up its biggest lead at 69-44 with 2:20 left. The Trojans (4-10, 1-7 CCAC) scored the game's final seven points to get the final margin under 20.

Cook, who scored a game-high 21 points, shot 10-of-13 from the field as the SAU starters combined to shoot 51.8 percent (29-of-56). She also pulled down eight rebounds.

McCarty posted another double-double with 14 points and 12 boards while adding five assists and three steals. Behind McCarty and Cook, St. Ambrose dominated the rebounding battle 45-28.

Carlisle finished with 13 points, four boards and five assists, and Madi Epperson came up with 12 points, four rebounds and four assists. Charlotte Flynn, the other Bee starter, totaled four points.

St. Ambrose, now 6-12 overall, will host CCAC foe Robert Morris Wednesday at 5:30 p.m.