St. Ambrose was able to start its season with a win as the Bees defeated Viterbo 66-57 Sunday afternoon inside Lee Lohman Arena.

The Bees had the lead from the first minute until the last and were led by Seniors Kylie Wroblewski and Jaynee Prestegaard. Wroblewski finished with 14 points and 14 rebounds and Prestegaard finished with 20 points and 12 rebounds along with four blocked shots. The Bees had five players score seven points or more.

The Bees got up by as much as 14 in the first half and carried a 37-29 lead into halftime. In the second half, Viterbo got the lead down to within a single point, but the Bees defense was able to hold them to just seven points in the remaining 7:45 of the game.

As a team, the Bees were able to combine for 18 assists on 24 made field goals. SAU was able to rely on defense and rebounding throughout the game. The Bees held a rebounding edge of 56-39. Eighteen of those rebounds came at the offensive end of the court. They held Viterbo to 32.4 percent shooting and less than 17 percent from three. The Bees were also able to force Viterbo into 16 turnovers.

Anna Plumer scored nine points in support of Wroblewski and Prestegaard. Playing in their first official collegiate games, freshmen Abby Wolter and Caitlyn Thole each contributed seven points, and Caroline Cool netted five. Mel Stewart added four points and five assists. Abby Lundquist chipped in with four rebounds and four assists.

The Bees are in action next when they face William Penn in the first day of the Grand View Classic in Des Moines, Iowa, on Nov. 4. They will take on Grand View the following day.