DAVENPORT, Iowa --- Clutch three-pointers from Braxtin Mickens and Kalyn Sias-Chaney in the closing 59 seconds sealed the University of St. Francis women's basketball team's seventh straight berth to the NAIA National Tournament with a 61-56 Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference victory over St. Ambrose University on Wednesday night. St. Ambrose had come into the contest just one game behind USF for second place in the league standings.

By finishing no less than second in the regular season league standings, the Saints (22-6, 19-2 CCAC) locked up one of three bids to the National Tournament - Opening Round that the conference is guaranteed. Saint Xavier University, which is one game ahead of the Saints for the top spot with one game to go, gained one of the other two berths. The third invitation goes to either next week's conference tournament champion or the third place regular season finisher if either USF or SXU win the tournament.

The Saints led by as many as 11 points on five separate occasions, including 49-38 with 2:14 to play in the third quarter before the well started to go dry. Over nearly the next ten minutes, USF could only find the net one time in 17 attempts enabling St. Ambrose to get to within 51-49 with 2:47 remaining in the contest.

The Fighting Bees (24-4, 17-4) made it a one point game (53-52) with 1:17 to play before Mickens and Sias-Chaney came up big. Up to that point, the Saints had gone just 1-for-16 from the floor in the final quarter and were 0-for-10 from long distance. Mickens' three pointer made it 56-52 with 59 seconds left and Sias-Chaney followed with her trey with 19 seconds remaining to put the Saints up 59-54. Justene Charlesworth then sealed St. Francis' ninth straight win with a pair of free throws in the final seconds.

Earlier in the contest, Charlesworth became the program's all time single season leader in three-pointers made with 88. The previous record of 87 was set by Kamari Jordan during the 2016-17 season.

The other key part of the game came in the second quarter when the Saints put up 23 points. After taking a 12-11 lead into the quarter, USF shot 64.3 percent in the second frame (9-of-14) with three treys in five attempts. That helped the Saints open up three separate 11 point advantages in the quarter before settling for a 35-28 lead at the break.

USF's three point shooting turned out to be the difference in the end with the late treys being part of an overall eight three pointers made on the night compared with just two for St. Ambrose. The Saints also made two more field goals overall than the hosts, while St. Ambrose gained a 14-9 advantage at the free throw line.

Head coach John McGinty's club limited St. Ambrose to just 32.8 percent shooting on the night (20-of-61). The Saints, who were at 44 percent after three quarters, finished at 36.1 percent (22-of-61).

Andriana Acosta had a monster game for USF, racking up 18 points and 21 rebounds – both game highs – for her tenth double-double of the season. It also marked her second 20 plus rebound game in a row and third of the season.

Jordan Pyle followed with 13 points and four assists, while Mickens provided 12 points and Sias-Chaney, nine.

St. Ambrose was led by Kylie Wroblewski's 16 points and 11 rebounds, and 14 points from Shayne Smith.

Up Next
The Saints wrap up the regular season at home against Indiana University Northwest on Saturday at 1 pm. USF will be seeking revenge on the RedHawks, who saddled St. Francis with one of its two conference losses, 57-53 on Dec. 1.

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