Another dominating defensive effort and performance on the boards led St. Ambrose to a 79-59 win at Roosevelt Wednesday night.

The Bees limited the Lakers to 38 percent shooting from the floor, including a 1-of-18 mark from beyond the arc, and finished with a 53-36 rebounding advantage in improving to 15-13 overall and 13-8 in the conference.

The second quarter proved to be the big difference as St. Ambrose outscored Roosevelt 22-10 in the period. The Lakers (7-22, 6-15 CCAC) shot just 5-of-16 from the field, and the Bees doubled the Lakers on the boards (16-8). Eight of SAU's rebounds in the quarter came on the offensive end.

Leading just 17-15 ending the frame, St. Ambrose opened the second with 10 straight points. Mel Stewart, Colleen Grady and Maddy Cash each had two points before Kylie Wroblewski capped the spurt with a 3-pointer for a 27-15 lead.

Roosevelt cut the deficit to single digits just twice from there, the last time coming at 46-37 midway through the third quarter. But a Madi Epperson sparked another big Bee run. That triple was followed by a Jaynee Prestegaard layup and then another Epperson three. Prestegaard and Gabrielle Koelker then got free for layups to complete the 12-0 run that opened up a 58-37 lead. Roosevelt never threatened again.

Wroblewski led St. Ambrose with 23 points and 13 rebounds. Epperson knocked down three threes in finishing with 11 points. Prestegaard added seven points, 11 boards and three blocked shots in the win.

Jamie Martens handed out a game-high nine assists to go with six points. Abby Lownik also scored six points. Madeline Prestegaard scored five, and Cash, Grady and Koelker each netted four in the balanced attack.

Stewart grabbed seven rebounds.

The Bees will close the regular season at home Saturday against Governors State. The Senior Night contest will tip off at 5:30 p.m.