MERKEL – The Brownwood Lady Lions are still in search of their first victory of the 2022-23 basketball season following Saturday’s 49-43 loss at Class 3A Merkel.

Brownwood trailed 10-6 after one quarter, 28-19 at halftime and 36-31 through three periods. Merkel scored 20 points at the free throw, where it attempted 32 shots, while the Lady Lions were 3 of 7 (42 percent) at the charity stripe.

Hannah Deen paced the Lady Lions with 14 points, Kimber Green added 11 points, Kassidy Wooten chipped in seven, Mady Pyle contributed six, Icess Hall finished with three and Miranda Northcutt scored two points.

Brownwood shot 27 percent (17 of 63) from the field, including 17 percent (6 of 34) on three-pointers. The Lady Lions committed 20 turnovers, but just two in the second half, and recorded 35 rebounds, 11 steals and seven assists.

The Lady Lions (0-2) are back in action at 6:15 p.m. Tuesday at Sweetwater.

In other Brown County girls basketball action Saturday, the Early Lady Horns slipped to 1-1 with a 56-16 road loss at Miles. Early will host May at 6:15 p.m. Tuesday.

Also Saturday, the Bangs Lady Dragons dropped a 42-36 home decision to Dublin to slip to 1-2 overall. Bangs ventures to Grape Creek at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday.

No additional information was available for either game.