BIRMINGHAM -- 1.

Throughout Miles' opening round game of the SIAC Tournament, the Lady Bears needed to make one more play, hit one extra shot, make one additional free throw against Kentucky State to move on to the next round. Instead, when Mya Millner's last-second shot hit the back iron as the final horn sounded, Miles came up one point short, falling 49-48 to the Thorobreds at Bill Harris Arena.

The loss ends the Lady Bears season at 17-10. Miles was the top defensive team in the SIAC this season and forced 29 KSU turnovers. But on the offensive end, the numbers were disturbing. Despite taking 24 more shots from the field, Miles made two less baskets than the Thorobreds (14-13) and shot 19.7 percent from the field. But the game was tight throughout.

Neither team led by more than five points. Miles held a 23-22 lead at the half but fell behind in the third quarter before Amya Bryant drained a 3-pointer with five seconds left to tie the game at 39 with 10 minutes left. KSU opened a five point lead to start the fourth but a steal and layup by Jasmine Hollis (five points, eight rebounds) tied the game at 44 with 5:48 left. Hollis scored again on an offensive putback with 2:05 left to give the Lady Bears a 47-46 lead.

But Ka-Leah Ryan put the Thorobreds ahead with a long jumper on the other end with 1:07 left. KSU had upped its lead to two points but fouled Amoni Walker (three points, four rebounds) with 12 seconds left. The senior guard made one free throw but missed the second to keep the deficit at one point. Amani Williams would miss both free throws for KSU and Miles would call time out with 3.6 seconds left to set up a final play.

Coach Phillip Wallace, Jr. was hoping to get the ball to one of his guards in an attempt to attack the basket for a game-winning layup or some free throws. But KSU denied the entry pass, leaving Millner as the only available option. She got a decent look from the free throw line but could not get it to fall. Sakina Wynn tried to tip the ball back into the basket but it was short and after the buzzer.

Victoria Sutton scored 10 points, Wynn added eight points and five steals, and Taylor Terry had six points and six rebounds for the Lady Bears.