Saint Xavier used a 14-0 run late in the fourth quarter to escape with a 79-70 win over St. Ambrose in Lee Lohman Arena Wednesday night.

St. Ambrose was within two points at 64-62 after a Caitlyn Thole jumper with 5:30 to play in a battle between two of the top teams in the CCAC. But it would be nearly five minutes before the Bees would score again. A string of six empty possessions, which included three turnovers, allowed the Cougars to go on a game-clinching 12-0 run.

Two Abby Wolter free throws ended the drought with 44 seconds remaining. SAU got as close as seven points at 77-70 on Anna Plumer's fifth 3-pointer of the night before Saint Xavier (17-6, 13-3 CCAC) added two late free throws to end the scoring.

It was Plumer who sparked St. Ambrose in the second half. The senior knocked down all of her season-best five threes in the second half. Nineteen of her game-high 24 points came after halftime.

Her first triple capped an 11-0 run that gave the Bees their largest lead of the game at 48-43 late in the third. But the Cougars answered with three straight threes of their own before Plumer buried another one from beyond the arc to pull SAU to within 52-51 entering the final period.

Plumer continued her run in the fourth, hitting a 3-pointer that put SAU in front 54-53. It proved to be the Bees' final lead of the game. Her fourth three of the contest trimmed the deficit to 62-60 a minute before SXU went on its final charge.

St. Ambrose (15-8, 11-5 CCAC) shot better than 48 percent from the floor and knocked down 6-of-13 from 3-point range. The Bees also out-rebounded the Cougars 37-28.

Turnovers proved to be the difference. SAU committed 25, leading to 31 SXU points. The Cougars turned the ball over 14 times.

Along with scoring 24 points, Plumer added seven rebounds and five assists in the loss.

Recognized prior to tip-off for scoring her 1000th career point last week, Jaynee Prestegaard finished with 18 points and 12 rebounds. Wolter scored 12. Thole finished with nine points and Allie Govert came off the bench to contribute seven points. Wolter and Kaitlyn Brunson each grabbed four rebounds.

St. Ambrose will host Judson Saturday.