AUGUSTA, Ga. – The Paine College women's basketball team lost a hard-fought 69-68 game to Carolina University Saturday afternoon.

The Lady Lions are now 0-7 on the season while the Bruins improve to 5-4.

Head coach Kisha Lucette's team was led by Leia Brown's 18-point effort. She hit six-of-13 from the floor, including three-of-five from downtown. Kyra McCrary added 17 points and 13 rebounds while Jada Brooks totaled 10 points, six assists and five steals in 39 minutes of work.

Adewunmi Atiba added eight points while Deejah Houck, Jada Mullinex and Aamaria Wright all had five points in the loss.

Up 4-3 early, Leia Brown hit three foul shots for a quick 7-3 advantage. Tied at 18-18, McCrary took a pas from Brooks and nailed a three-point bucket. Wright's jumper in the lane with three ticks remaining in the quarter gave Lucette's squad a 23-18 margin going into the second frame.

Up 27-26 with 2:58 to play in the second quarter, Jada Mullinex buried a jumper. Then, McCrary hit another field goal for a six-point working margin with 2:02 to play. Leading 32-27 with 50 seconds remaining. A strong defensive stand by the Lady Lions allowed the home team into halftime with the five-point advantage.

PC pushed the margin to eight on a jumper by McCrary with 7:58 to go in the third frame. Moments later, McCrary's bucket off a pass from Brown extended the margin to 11, 43-32. However, the Bruins battled back. A pair of free throws with 1:19 to go in the quarter made it a two-point game at 47-45. However, a lay-up by Brooks made it 49-45 heading into the fourth quarter.

The back-and-forth affair saw Carolina take a 54-53 lead with 6:30 to play. The Bruins held the lead the rest of the way, building a four-point edge with 2:36 to go. However, Lucette's team fought back, cutting it to one on a basket by McCrary with 1:51 to play.

The Lady Lions knotted the score at 67-67 when Brown buried a 27-foot three-point basket. However, Paine was whistled for a foul with 15 seconds to go and the visitors made both attempts. PC was fouled on a last-second shot but Brooks hit just one-of-two for the final tally.

For the game, the Lady Lions hit 25 field goals, including seven from downtown. The team dished out 13 assists and held a 13-6 advantage on the break.

The Lady Lions return to action Jan. 2 when they travel to Claflin for a game starting at 5:30 p.m.