BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A steal and layup with eight seconds remaining sent the Kentucky State University women's basketball team to the 63-60 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference loss to Miles Saturday at the Knox-Windham Gym.

Trailing by one with five seconds remaining, Kentucky State missed both free throws and the Golden Bears sealed the win at the line. The Thorobreds shot just 60.5 percent (23-of-38) from the free-throw line in the loss.

Things looked promising after junior Erica Jones (South Haven, Miss.) gave Kentucky State the late lead with an elbow jumper and then forced an MC turnover. However, after having three players foul out – and playing four versus five, the Thorobreds couldn't get the ball inbounded on two separate occasions.

Kentucky State falls to 5-11 overall, 2-7 in the SIAC, while Miles improves to 11-5 overall, 7-2 in the SIAC.

TURNING POINT
Senior Carnethia Brown went to the bench with 51 seconds remaining, marking the third Kentucky State player to foul out. The Thorobreds were forced to play with four players for the rest of the game.

INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
Senior forward Victoria Blankenship (Fayetteville, N.C.) and junior forward Erica Jones (South Haven, Miss.) combined for 75 percent of Kentucky State's production. Blankenship tallied 23 of her team-high 25 points in the second half, before fouling out with 1:14 remaining in the overtime period. She was 7-of-8 from the floor in the second half. The 25 points were one off her career high, and the third time she has reached the 20-point mark this season.

Jones kept the Thorobreds afloat early, scoring seven of the team's first nine points. She recorded 13 of her season-high 20 points in the first half.

Three players – Jones, junior Allenia Ponder (Smyrna, Ga.), and sophomore Deja Antoine (Tamarac, Fla.) – all pulled down five rebounds.

COACH SPEAK
"I told them before the game that good teams are going to make a run, and just to stay together for 40 minutes," said Kentucky State University Associate Head Coach Latear Eason. "They fought in regulation and in overtime; they fought their butts off. We just didn't make enough plays down the stretch of the game."



INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
After surrendering the first eight points of the game, Kentucky State only trailed 10-9 at the end of the first quarter with Jones picking up seven of the points.

Kentucky State shot 55 percent (11-of-20) from the floor in the second half and overtime. The Thorobreds attempted 29 free throws, making 18 over the final 25 minutes.

The Thorobreds' starting backcourt shot 3-of-18 (16.6 percent) from the floor in the loss.

Kentucky State played with just seven active players for the fourth time in the last six games.

UP NEXT
Kentucky State returns to action in a Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference matchup against LeMoyne-Owen College 6:30 p.m. EST Monday.