COLUMBIA, S.C. – The Paine College women's basketball team dropped a hard-fought 64-61 game at Benedict Saturday.

The Lady Lions are now 0-2 on the season.

Head coach Kisha Lucette's team was paced by Jada Brooks and Ashley Rubio as each poured in a team-best 17 points. Brooks was five-for-14 from the floor while Rubio canned six-of-11 from the field, including two-of-four from distance. Rubio also registered a game-high six thefts in the loss.

Neani Stewart chipped in seven points to go along with a team-best six rebounds and three assists. Jada Mullinex accounted for six points, three rebounds and three steals. Alexandria Caples contributed six points and three boards.

For the game, Paine College hit 20-of-65 form the floor (30.8 percent). The squad got to the charity stripe 29 times, hitting 17 attempts (58.6 percent). The lady Lions snagged 37 rebounds and registered 17 steals. 

Lucette's squad accounted for 13 points off turnovers and accounted for 11 second-chance points. The solid defense also allowed the visitors to account for 12 fast break points.  

The Lady Lions took a 5-4 lead on a three-point play from Brooks. A rare four-point play from Rubio extended the margin to five at 9-4. Brooks hit two free throws to make it 12-10 with 2:29 to play in the first quarter. A charity toss from Caples made it 13-11 after the first frame.

Benedict managed to take a 31-25 lead at the break, but Lucette's team continued to battle. 

Down by seven, Rubio took a pass from Myah Beasley and drained a three-point shot. Moments later, Rubio hit one-of-two free throws to pull within three, 36-33. A steal by Shacari Hardy led to a lay-up by Jada Brooks, giving the visitors a 37-36 advantage. However, Benedict took a 48-43 lead into the fourth stanza.

Four straight points from Rubio knotted the score at 50-50 with 7:53 to play but a 10-1 run by the home team gave Benedict a lead it would not relinquish. 

The Lady Lions return to action Tuesday when they play at Clinton at 6 p.m.