LAKELAND, Fla. (Women's basketball) – The Paine College Lady Lions took the court in Lakeland, Fla. on Friday afternoon in their season opener and first ever meeting with the Moccasins of Florida Southern College. Paine hung around the game in the early going but were overwhelmed by Florida Southern and lost the game, 95-61.

In the first quarter, the Lady Lions traded baskets with the Mocs and taking their only lead of the game with 6:14 left as Delisia Sharpe made a layup, 10-9. Florida Southern answered back when Gianna Vastola nailed a jumper with 6:03 left, 11-9.

The rest of the game proved to be a challenge for the Lady Lions as the Mocs gained their biggest lead of 36 points with 1:46 left in the third quarter and the score was 74-36. The final point for Paine was scored by Sharpe when she fouled and went one of two at the free throw line with 2:05 left in the fourth quarter, 95-61.

The Lady Lions were led by Ashley Watts with 17 points and Tannasia Rhodes with 16 points. Freshman Chasity Mullins got in on the action with 11 points and a team-high five steals. Rhodes was the assist leader with four on the night. Sharpe accounted for the lone Lady Lion block.

As a team, Paine finished the game with 32 rebounds, 11 assists, nine steals and one block. The Lady Lions were 36.7 percent from the field, 31.3 percent from the arc, and 42.9 percent from the free throw line.

Vastola led Florida Southern with 24 points and she was followed by Sydni Payne with 15. The leading rebounder was Shaquita Snow with eight boards for the game. Mariah Harris recorded two blocks.

Collectively, the Mocs were 56.3 percent from the field, 60 percent from three point range, and 55 percent for the free throw line.

The Lady Lions take the court against Saint Leo University on Saturday at 2 p.m. in the third game of the Sunshine State Conference / Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Challenge.