JACKSON, Tenn. -- The Miles women's basketball team dropped its first contest of the season, falling to 14th-ranked Union 95-77 Tuesday night at Fred DeLay Gymnasium.

Consecutive 3-pointers by Shannon Niles, Jalyn Shelby and Laila Minter gave the Lady Bears a 13-10 lead four minutes into the first quarter. But Miles (1-1) would not score again in the period and trailed 19-13 at the end of the quarter. The deficit hit 18 points in the second quarter and Union went into the break with a 46-31 advantage.

Miles had a big third quarter, and when Samarian Franklin converted two free throws with 1:36 remaining. the Lady Bears were down by just six points. But even after scoring points in the period, the Lady Bears still trailed 72-62. Consecutive buckets by Franklin and Mya Millner had Miles within 81-74 with less than five minutes remaining in the game but Union would not let the Lady Bears get any closer, extending the lead as large as 21 points in the final stanza.

Olivia Lee (16 points) and Aryn Roberts (15) were the high scorers for Union. Shelby (game-high 17 points), Millner (16 points, six rebounds), Franklin (15 points, five assists), and Niles (10 points) were among the top performers for Miles, which hosts Clark Atlanta on Thursday. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.