Another strong defensive effort, another Fighting Bee win.

St. Ambrose limited Governors State to 15-of-56 shooting, a 26.8-percent mark, in a 53-46 home win Tuesday night. It was SAU's eighth win in nine games and moved the team to a perfect 8-0 at home this season.

The tone was set early as the Bees held the Jaguars without a field goal in the opening quarter. Governors State (4-13, 2-7 CCAC) missed all 14 of its shots in the frame, getting just three points from the line, as St. Ambrose was able to overcome some of its own offensive difficulties to take an 11-3 lead. The Bees shot just 3-of-12 in the period.

SAU was never able to completely pull away, leading by no more than 10 points at any point, but never trailed in the contest.

The Jaguars never went away and pulled to within three points on three different occasions inside the final three minutes. Each time, the Bees had the answer. First, Anna Plumer hit two free throws. Thirty seconds later, Jaynee Prestegaard knocked down a short jumper off a Caitlyn Thole assist. Finally, nursing a 48-45 lead with 43 seconds to play, Prestegaard connected on two from the line to restore a five-point advantage.

After a Governors State miss, Caroline Cool split a pair of free throws for a 51-45 lead with 30 seconds to play. The Jaguars hit a free throw of their own with 21 seconds remaining before Plumer ended the scoring with two from the line in the final seconds.

GSU did not shoot above 39 percent from the floor in any quarter. SAU upped its shooting in each frame, closing the game by hitting 5-of-10 shots in the fourth.

Prestegaard led St. Ambrose with a 17-point, 10-rebound double-double. She was the lone Bee to shoot better than 50 percent from the field, making seven field goals in 13 attempts.

Plumer was the only other Bee to score in double figures, finishing with 13.

Abby Wolter scored eight points. Mel Stewart had five points. Olivia Cantu totaled four points and seven boards off the SAU bench. Thole (three points), Kaitlyn Brunson (two) and Cool (one) rounded out the St. Ambrose scoring.

St. Ambrose, now 10-5 overall and 6-2 in the CCAC, will host Trinity Christian Thursday.