Lady Marauders' Comeback Falls Short Against Miles, Williams and Miller Shine as Co-Players of the Game

Wilberforce, OH — In a hard-fought battle at Beacom/Lewis Gym on Sunday evening, the Central State University Lady Marauders saw their late-game rally fall just short as they were edged out by Miles College, 64-59. Despite a strong individual effort from Ma'Kayla Williams and Dashanti Miller, who were both named the Co-Players of the Game, Central State could not overcome a tough shooting night.

The Lady Marauders (7-7, 6-3 SIAC) struggled offensively throughout the game, shooting just 33.3% from the field. Their woes were particularly evident from beyond the arc, where they connected on only 6 of 17 three-point attempts (35.3%). Despite this, they managed to keep the game close, thanks to a strong effort from their bench and a determined second-half performance.

The game began with Miles (10-3, 8-2 SIAC) asserting control, jumping out to a 17-11 lead in the first quarter. Although Central State's defense was active, forcing several turnovers and limiting the Lady Marauders to just 17 points in the second quarter, they struggled to find consistent offensive rhythm, shooting only 35.3% from the field.

The second half saw Central State find momentum storming back from an early 3rd quarter 16 point deficit. Led by the dynamic play of Williams and Miller, who both tallied 12 points, the Lady Marauders began to chip away at Miles' lead. Williams was particularly effective from the free-throw line, making 10 of 14 attempts, and her efforts helped Central State close the gap. Miller, who grabbed seven rebounds and played solid defense, provided a spark for her team.

However, Central State's offense couldn't find its footing in the fourth quarter. The Lady Marauders managed just 17 points in the final period, including a 0-for-4 performance from three-point range. Miles, on the other hand, capitalized on free throws down the stretch, making 7 of 11 attempts in the fourth quarter.

Kiyara Howard-Garza led the way for Miles with a game-high 22 points, including 4-for-8 shooting from beyond the arc. Feliah Greer added 14 points and eight rebounds, and Iemyiah Harris contributed eight points and six rebounds. While Central State's defense managed to limit Miles' shooting percentage to 36.5%, the Lady Marauders were unable to capitalize on the offensive end.

Central State's bench played a crucial role, contributing 36 points, led by Williams' 12 and Zhieyah Rolack's 12, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Lady Marauders' shooting struggles. Despite the loss, the team showed resilience in a hard-fought battle that kept the fans at Beacom/Lewis Gym on their feet.

In the end, the Lady Marauders couldn't complete the comeback, and Miles held on for the 64-59 win. With the loss, Central State will look to regroup as they head into their next game with hopes of getting back on track in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC).

Key Stats:

• Central State: Williams (12 points), Miller (12 points), Rolack (12 points).
• Miles: Howard-Garza (22 points), Greer (14 points, 8 rebounds).