HOLLY SPRINGS, Miss. - Stillman College women's basketball dropped its first game of the season Monday night, losing 63-43 at No. 23 Rust College. 

Farrah Pearson was the Tigers' only double-figure scorer with 10 points, while Thaniyah Marks had nine points and seven rebounds to lead Stillman on the glass. JaMesha King also had seven rebounds and was third in scoring with six points. 

The two-time defending Gulf Coast Athletic Conference champion Bearcats (3-0) won the rebounding battle, 48-38. 

Diamond Sweats scored the first five points of the game to give Rust a 5-0 lead. Stillman got no closer than three points early, 7-4, as Rust grew its lead to 15 points late in the first quarter. Sweats finished with 23 points and six rebounds to lead Rust. Niya McGuire followed with 10 points and nine boards.

The Tigers shot 29% from the floor and 11% from 3-point range, while also hitting only 16-of-25 free throws. 

Stillman (3-1) will open Southern States Athletic Conference play later this week with a pair of games in Georgia. The Tigers will travel to Brewton-Parker College on Thursday, Nov. 16 for a 4:30 p.m. CT tip, followed by an 11 a.m. CT tip at Middle Georgia State University on Saturday, Nov. 18.