St. Ambrose did everything but close out the win Saturday afternoon. The Bees built a 10-point lead with less than four minutes remaining but couldn't hold on as conference-leading St. Francis rallied for an 81-76 overtime win in Lee Lohman Arena.

Caitlyn Thole, Allie Govert and Olivia Harter each scored during a 6-0 run that built a 70-60 advantage with 3:41 to play.

But the Bees would not score again in regulation, missing their final four shots from the field and commiting three turnovers as St. Francis (15-3, 8-2 CCAC) closed with 10 straight points to force overtime. The Fighting Saints tied the game with two free throws just inside the final minute. Each team had a chance at the win but came up empty.

Playing in its second-straight overtime game, St. Ambrose (6-11, 4-6 CCAC) would make just 2-of-8 shots from the floor in the extra session. The first of those baskets, a 3-pointer from Thole, gave SAU a 73-72 lead with three minutes left. The second, another three from Thole, closed the gap to 77-76 with a minute remaining.

USF came back with two free throws to rebuild a three-point lead. After Payton Calouette missed a potential game-tying three, the Saints added two more from the line to virtually seal the win by taking an 81-76 lead with 17 seconds left. Mary Gruber missed a triple in the closing seconds as St. Francis escaped with the victory.

The Bee defense stood out throughout the game. SAU limited USF to 37.1-percent shooting as the Saints were just 23-of-62 from the floor. The Bees shot nearly 48 percent, hitting 30-of-63 attempts.

St. Francis, who never led by more than six points, was able to knock down 10 3-pointers in 28 tries and knocked down 25-of-28 free throws (89.3 percent). St. Ambrose was just 5-of-20 from deep and only 11-of-19 from the line (57.9 percent).

SAU received some huge individual performances.

Thole led all scorers with 25 points. She also grabbed nine rebounds and added four assists and three steals before fouling out in overtime.

Abby Wolter, who was honored in a pregame ceremony for scoring her 1,000th-career point a week ago, finished with a 17-point, 12-rebound double-double.

Harter also scored in double figures, netting 15 points.

Calouette came off the bench to contribute eight points and 10 rebounds. Govert chipped in with seven points. Gruber scored three and Erica Bostwick dropped in one.

The Bees will visit Olivet Nazarene Wednesday.