KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Western Michigan University women's basketball team wasn't able to outlast the Miami RedHawks in a 60-55 loss on Tuesday night.

The Broncos overcame a 16-point deficit through the second half to take a lead in the final six minutes of the game. But WMU wasn't able to hang on to its slim lead in the last minute and 45 seconds of regulation. For the fourth game in a row, sophomore guard Kailey Starks was the Brown and Gold's offensive leader with a team-high 17 points. Under the glass, senior Ariana Wilkes grabbed a team-high seven boards for Western Michigan.

Miami's three-point offense got going early, putting the Broncos down by six just over a minute into the game. WMU chipped away at the RedHawks lead, but 50% shooting behind the arc in the first quarter kept Miami in front. The Brown and Gold got the last field goal of the frame, making it a nine-point deficit after 10 minutes of play.

It was back and forth offensively through the first three minutes of the second. But the RedHawks broke out on another run to put Western Michigan down by 16. The Broncos defense found their footing just after the midway point of the quarter, keeping Miami scoreless for over four minutes. In that time, WMU added seven points to get the game back into single digits. A late layup from the RedHawks led to a 35-24 halftime score in favor of Miami.

The Brown and Gold came out of the locker room firing on all cylinders in the second half. Five quick points made it only a six-point game early in the third. But Western Michigan's offense went cold for three minutes, giving the RedHawks time to rebuild a double figure lead. It was a back-and-forth fight on offense the rest of the way as the Broncos kept bringing their deficit out of double-digit range. Neither team made a shot in the final minute of the quarter going into the final frame 50-41.

WMU's defense pressured Miami early in the fourth quarter, keeping the RedHawks from scoring over the first four minutes. Emboldened by their defense, the Brown and Gold offense put together a blistering 10-point run, capped off by an Alli Carlson three to take their first lead of the game with 5:51 left on the clock. Two straight shooting fouls on Western Michigan put Miami back in front by only three points with under five left to go.

The Broncos slowly worked their way back to a one-point lead as Starks scored four points in a row. But the sophomore guard's points were the final ones for WMU as the team went scoreless for the last two minutes of the game. The RedHawks made two more field goals and two free throws in the final 1:45 as the Brown and Gold fell to the MAC-leaders 60-55.

Carlson also ended the game in double figures for Western Michigan with 14 points and a team-leading four assists. Five different Broncos recorded a steal each while Wilkes had her fifth game of the season with multiple blocks. WMU returns to the road this weekend, heading to in-state rivals Central Michigan on Saturday, Feb. 14. Tip-off on Valentine's Day from McGuirk Arena is set for 1:00 p.m.