Every time St. Ambrose threatened to make a run in the fourth quarter, St. Francis had the answer. And behind six 3-pointers in the final frame, the No. 12-ranked Fighting Saints were able to hold on for a 66-52 win in Lee Lohman Arena Saturday afternoon.

Twice in the opening minutes of the final quarter, Maddy Cash hit a 3-pointer to pull the Bees to within five points. And each time the Saints immediately answered with a three of their own to restore an eight-point lead.

Then, after Madeline Prestegaard scored inside to trim the deficit to 52-46, USF scored the game's next nine points, all from beyond the arc, to build an insurmountable 61-46 lead with less than four minutes to play.

The loss, SAU's second in a row, dropped the Bees to 3-2 on the year.

It was a turnover problem that hurt St. Ambrose early. The Bees committed 14 of their 20 turnovers in the first half, including eight in a second quarter that saw SAU score just five total points on 2-of-9 shooting.

Yet thanks to a strong defensive effort that limited St. Francis (8-1) to 32 percent shooting in the first half, the deficit was just 25-20 at the half.

The Bees stayed with the Saints in the third quarter, trailing just 44-38 after Jamie Martens scored to end the period. USF scored to open the fourth quarter before the 3-point barrage buried the Bees.

Martens and Cash led St. Ambrose with 13 points apiece. Madeline Prestegaard scored 12 points. Jaynee Prestegaard came off the bench to contribute six points and 11 rebounds.

SAU is now off until opening conference play at Judson on Jan. 2.

Videos below courtesy SAUtv

Jamie Martens opens the second half with a driving layup to cut the deficit to 25-22

Anna Plumer knocks down a 3-pointer to tie the game at 27-27

Maddy Cash's 3-pointer trims the margin to 46-41

Madeline Prestegaard scores down low to trim USF's lead to 52-46