The early-season schedule hasn't done St. Ambrose any favors.

For the fifth time this season, the Bees lost to a team ranked inside the top 25, this time falling at No. 24 Indiana South Bend 68-60 Wednesday night.

And like the previous two games against ranked foes, this one was close late.

SAU trailed just 59-55 with 1:23 to play but the Titans were able to close things out by connecting on 9-of-12 from the line after that point to escape with the win.

The loss drops the Bees to 4-6 overall and 3-3 in the CCAC.

St. Ambrose stayed close throughout, trailing just 18-15 after one quarter, 32-29 at the half and 47-41 after three.

With less than three minutes remaining, and the deficit 59-50, Charlotte Flynn converted a three-point play. After a defensive stop, Flynn tracked down an offensive rebound and was fouled, leading to two free throws which cut the score to 59-55.

But with just a minute left on the clock, the Bees were forced to foul and the Titans capitalized. Indiana South Bend (11-1, 5-1 CCAC) made four straight sandwiched around an SAU turnover to build an eight-point lead. A late Abby Lownik three-point play closed the gap to 65-60, but two more IUSB free throws made it a three-possession game. St. Ambrose came up empty on its next possession leading to a final Titan free throw inside the final 10 seconds to account for the final score.

Jamie Martens led SAU with 16 points. Madi Epperson and Gabrielle Koelker each scored 10. Jaynee Prestegaard finished with eight points, Flynn had seven and Kylie Wroblewski had six points and a team-high nine rebounds.

The Bees will next visit Governors State Saturday afternoon.