It was a Senior Day to forget for St. Ambrose.

The Bees started slowly and never really got on track in a 61-54 loss to Holy Cross Saturday in Lee Lohman Arena.

After a pregame ceremony honoring Maddy Cash, Avari Everts, Sarah Goldensoph, Madeline Prestegaard and Shayne Smith, who are winding down their SAU playing careers, the Bees came out flat. SAU missed its first three shots from the floor and committed four turnovers over the first four minutes as the Saints raced to an 11-0 lead.

It was a sign of things to come.

St. Ambrose (24-3, 17-3 CCAC) shot less than 33 percent for the game and finished with 24 turnovers, the team's second-highest total this season. It all allowed Holy Cross (14-13, 9-11 CCAC), battling for a conference tournament bid, to play with the lead the entire way.

The Bees were able to shake off the bad start to close to within 13-10 after one quarter. They were then immediately outscored 7-2 to start the second.

St. Ambrose found a bit of a spark in the fourth. Smith's 3-pointer four minutes into the final period pulled the teams even at 43-43. It was the first tie since 0-0. The two teams traded free throws with a pair from Kylie Wroblewski knotting the score at 45-45 with 5:21 left. On its next possession, SAU had two chances for its first lead but Wroblewski and Prestegaard both came up empty.

The Saints knocked down two free throws to regain a 47-45 lead. After Mel Stewart went 1-of-2 from the line to pull the Bees to within a point, Holy Cross ran off six straight points for a 53-46 lead with two minutes remaining. Anna Plumer broke the Bee scoring drought with two free throws with 58 seconds left to close the gap to 53-48 but the Saints hit 8-of-10 from the line from there to close out the win.

SAU's defense quietly held Holy Cross to 30-percent shooting (20-of-67) in the loss.

Wroblewski led the Bees with 16 points and 13 rebounds. Stewart added 11 points and seven boards. Smith scored nine points and Plumer added eight. Jaynee Prestegaard registered six points and nine rebounds.

The Bees will play their final regular-season home game next Wednesday when they host St. Francis (Ill.).