WILBERFORCE, Ohio -- With an opportunity to create some breathing room in the SIAC Western Division race, Miles came up short Saturday afternoon against Central State and left the battle for a top seed in the upcoming conference tournament wide open.

The Lady Bears entered the fourth quarter with the lead against the Lady Marauders but could not close it out, making just one basket from the field over the final three minutes in a 68-62 loss at Beacom-Lewis Gymnasium. It was the second straight road loss for Miles (15-7, 10-4 SIAC West), which saw its lead in the standings over Tuskegee drop to just one game with four left to play.

Miles led by as many as nine points in the first half. Midway through the third quarter, two Jaylen Snipes free throws still had the Lady Bears' lead at 42-34. But from there, the Lady Marauders (10-14, 8-7) started to make their move. They erased the entire deficit and took the lead on a Laurene Tere basket with 52 seconds left in the third. Mya Millner (11 points, 7 rebounds, 3 steals) would score on the other end and Raiana Johnson, who posted her second straight double-double (11 points, 12 rebounds, 2 blocks) off the bench, make 1-of-2 free throws to give Miles a 47-46 lead going into the fourth quarter.

Najla Shamsid-Deen would open the final period with a 3-pointer to push the Lady Bears' advantage to four points but the lead was gone when Takyra Gilbert drained her own 3-ball to tie the game at 50. Two Tere free throws on the ensuing possession gave CSU the lead and Miles spent the rest of the game playing catch-up. The Lady Marauders opened a quick four-point advantage but when Sakina Wynn scored with 3:29 left, the game was tied at 56.

Central State, though, would take the lead for good on its next possession, getting a 3-point play from Sandra Guilford. Miles had a few chances to stay close but split four free throws on its next two possessions. Still down just 61-60, Wynn missed a short jumper with a chance to take the lead. Gilbert would come down on the other end, drive the lane and score while being fouled by Shamsid-Deen. The 3-point play pushed the Lady Marauders' lead to four points and the Lady Bears would not have another opportunity to tie or take the lead.

Gilbert had 25 points and 7 rebounds to pace Central State. Shamsid-Deen had a team-high 15 points and Wynn added 10 for Miles, which travels to Kentucky State on Monday. Tip-off is scheduled for 4:30 p.m.