ATHENS, W.Va.- The Concord University women's basketball team dropped the season opener with close defeat against Ferrum, 62-59, Monday night at the Carter Center.
 
The Mountain Lions' first basket of the belonged to graduate guard Shelby Fiddler, who drained a three-pointer in the first two minutes of action. 
 
After layups from graduate forward Olivia Ziolkowski and sophomore forward Maddie Caron, Concord (0-1) held a 7-6 lead which would be the last time CU found itself in front.
 
Ferrum (1-0) pushed its advantage to a 19-7 edge but Concord stayed resilient, ripping off nine straight points to make it just a three-point game going into the second quarter.
 
The second quarter went back-and-forth with the Mountain Lions staying within two possessions of the lead, but unable to get back over the hump by tying or taking the lead as CU went into halftime down 32-26.
 
Again, in the third quarter Concord was on the brink of overtaking the Panthers after a field goal from senior guard Alexis Frazee and a pair of free throws from Ziolkowski cut the deficit to 36-33 with 6:26 remaining in the third.
 
The fourth quarter was a grinder with the Mountain Lions battling hard to slice into the Panthers' advantage. Sophomore guard Cadee Blackburn hit a floater to cut the lead to just one, 53-52, with 4:44 remaining.
 
Two other times down the stretch, CU got within one point before Ferrum answered.
 
With just two seconds remaining, Stubbs made a pair of free throws to get the margin back to three points. Needing to force a turnover, the Mountain Lions did as senior guard Kiley Smich intercepted a pass but was unable to get behind the arc for the potential game-tying three.
 
Stubbs led Concord with 13 points, going 11-14 at the free throw line. Ziolkowski collected a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds, adding three steals and two blocks on the defensive end. Fiddler dropped in nine points, featuring a pair of three-pouinters. Caron finished with eight points and 12 boards.
 
Powered by Caron and Ziolkowski, the Mountain Lions had a 43-39 rebounding edge.
 
Concord hits the road to play Seton Hill at 12:00 p.m. Friday in the MEC-PSAC Challenge hosted by Fairmont State.