I wonder what she did to provoke the attack.
Probably was having her period. Happens all the time.
According to an article in Hand Gun magazine about wilderness defense mountain lions only attack for one reason, for food. The author also concurred with the FReepers here who have said that a gun is of little use for the same reasons they have stated, no time and it's too risky to shoot at an animal that is mauling someone else. Pepper spray is the best defense if attacked.