The Bees Swarm Again: St. Ambrose Clinches Second Straight CCAC Title in a Game for the Ages

You know, there are just some moments in sports that feel... well, inevitable, don't they? And for the St. Ambrose women's basketball team, Saturday night was precisely one of those. Inside the buzzing Lee Lohman Arena, a place that's seen its share of thrilling victories, the Bees carved out yet another slice of history, securing their second consecutive CCAC tournament championship. It wasn't always pretty, in truth, but it was undoubtedly a win that spoke volumes about their grit.

Facing off against a Governors State squad that simply refused to back down, the Bees, honestly, had their work cut out for them. The final score, 67-60, might suggest a comfortable enough margin, but anyone watching could tell you it was a hard-fought battle, every single possession contested, every basket earned. It's a testament to both teams, really, that the energy in the arena never dipped, not for a moment.

From the get-go, though, St. Ambrose seemed to have a certain rhythm, closing out the first quarter with a tidy 18-12 lead. And by halftime? They'd stretched that advantage to 35-26, making you wonder, just for a second, if perhaps this one would be a runaway. But, of course, that's not how championship games tend to unfold, is it? Governors State, you see, had other ideas, staging a rather impressive comeback in the third quarter, slashing the deficit to a mere one possession on more than one occasion. It was a proper nail-biter, a test of nerves for everyone.

But when the going gets tough, the tough, as they say, get going. And for St. Ambrose, that meant leaning on some standout performances. Anna Plumer, for instance, delivered a double-double masterclass, pouring in 18 points and grabbing 11 rebounds. A truly monumental effort. Then there was Kylie Cash, with a vital 16 points and 6 boards of her own, always seemingly there when a crucial shot was needed; and let's not forget Sam Elzeftawi, who chipped in with a dozen points, her contributions quietly pivotal throughout the contest.

On the other side, Governors State had their own heroics, particularly from Gaetana Davis, who absolutely exploded for 23 points and snatched 6 rebounds. Mya Farrell added 10 points too, keeping their team very much in the hunt. For a while, it felt like GSU might just pull off the upset, chipping away, inch by agonizing inch.

Yet, as the clock wound down in the final minutes, it was St. Ambrose who found that extra gear, that undeniable championship resolve. They clamped down defensively, a suffocating presence that honestly just wouldn't yield. In fact, for the last three minutes and five seconds, Governors State found themselves completely stymied, unable to register a single point. That, my friends, is how you close out a championship game—with a defensive stand for the ages.

So, under the guidance of head coach Megan Fanz, the Bees, now boasting an impressive 27-3 overall record and a 20-2 conference mark, are heading back to the NAIA National Tournament. Their ticket, an automatic bid, is punched. And while their seeding is still a mystery, one thing is abundantly clear: this St. Ambrose team knows how to win, how to fight, and how to, truly, be champions. It was a night to remember, a display of pure collegiate basketball prowess, and a story that's still being written.