It's early, but it's a pretty good start.

Just two games into the 2021-22 campaign, the Bees are 2-0 after opening up CCAC play with an impressive 90-77 win over No. 22 Olivet Nazarene Tuesday night in Lee Lohman Arena.

SAU controlled play early and the Bees maintained their composure late when the up-tempo Tigers made a run. 

Olivet Nazarene (1-2) used a 30-point third quarter to rally and ultimately took its only lead of the contest at 70-69 three minutes into the final period.

But Shayne Smith, facing the Tiger pressure for the first time, calmly hit jumpers on back-to-back possessions to give the Bees a 73-70 lead. Two ONU free throws closed the gap to a single point but Smith again came up big, this time finding Madeline Prestegaard for a layup and a 75-72 lead. Two more defensive stops led to a pair of Maddy Cash free throws to extend the lead to 77-72 with just under four minutes remaining.

Olivet, which finished just 13-of-55 from beyond the arc, knocked down a 3-pointer to get within two. A Cash free throw restored a 78-75 lead, and after the Tigers misfired on a potential game-tying triple, Smith couldn't connect in the lane but Prestegaard hauled in the offensive rebound, which led to two free throws and a 80-75 advantage.

ONU came up empty from the line and Madeline Prestegaard found sister Jaynee Prestegaard for a layup to push the lead to seven points. Anna Plumer all but sealed the win with a layup for an 84-75 lead with 1:08 remaining. Plumer, Cash, Jaynee Prestegaard and Kylie Wroblewski combined to knock down six free throws in the final minute to account for the final score.

Jaynee Prestegaard was 10-of-16 from the floor and led all players with 27 points and 14 rebounds. Four other Bees scored in double figures. Smith recorded 16 points, eight boards and five assists. Madeline Prestegaard was a perfect 8-for-8 from the line in scoring 14 points off the bench. Cash and Wroblewski each netted 10 points.

Jaynee Prestegaard, Wroblewski (13 rebounds) and Plumer (10) helped the Bees finish with a 64-36 advantage on the boards.

SAU also limited ONU to just 21-of-88 (31.8 percent) shooting from the field.

That defensive effort helped St. Ambrose to a 47-28 halftime lead after the Bees outscored the Tigers 23-9 in the second quarter. The lead ballooned to 22 points midway through the third before ONU found some rhythm offensively and climbed back into the game.

SAU will hit the road for the first time this season with a game at Mount Mercy Saturday at 6 p.m.

Videos below courtesy SAUtv

Anna Plumer finds Mel Stewart for an early 14-6 lead

Jaynee Prestegaard grabs an offensive board and scores for a 27-19 lead

Shayne Smith hits the Bees' only 3-pointer of the game for a 35-24 lead

Olivia Cantu gives SAU a 47-28 halftime lead

Jaynee Prestegaard converts after an offensive rebound for a 55-33 lead

Shayne Smith to Kylie Wroblewski for a 67-63 lead

Shayne Smith knocks down a jumper in the paint for a 73-70 lead

Madeline Prestegaard scores inside to extend the lead to 75-72

Madeline Prestegaard to Jaynee Prestegaard for a layup and a 82-75 lead