DENVER, Colo. (December 19, 2025) – No. 3 Lubbock Christian erased a 16-point first-quarter deficit and leaned on a historic shooting night from beyond the arc to defeat Metropolitan State of Denver 80–73 on Thursday in a nonconference women's basketball game at Auraria Events Center.
 
The Lady Chaps (12–1) buried 15 three-pointers—tied for the sixth-most in a game since 2008 and a school record for a road game—while rallying from a 26–10 hole late in the opening quarter. LCU finished 15-of-29 from three-point range and placed five players in double figures, turning the momentum with a 23–8 third quarter that flipped a halftime deficit into a lead it would not relinquish.
 
Kennedy Chappell led Lubbock Christian with 18 points, eight rebounds and seven assists, pacing the Lady Chaps in all three categories. Freshman Kyndle Cunningham added a career-high 14 points off the bench, knocking down all four of her three-point attempts. Taylor Allen and Maddie Moyers scored 11 points apiece, each connecting on three triples, while Martie McCoy filled the stat sheet with 11 points, six rebounds, six assists, two steals and two blocks.
 
LCU's comeback was the largest in its NCAA era, surpassing the previous mark of 15 points—also against MSU Denver—and marked the second time this season the Lady Chaps rallied from a deficit of 13 points or more. The win improved LCU to 5–1 in road games during an active seven-game road swing.
 
Metropolitan State of Denver (3–8) matched LCU shot for shot from the perimeter for much of the night, connecting on 14 three-pointers—its highest single-game total since 2019. Mikylah Espinosa led the Roadrunners with 18 points and six turnovers, while Jadyn Watts posted 16 points and 10 rebounds for a double-double. Lex Trujillo scored 14 points, Madison Johnson added 12, and Brooklynn Jones chipped in six as MSU Denver built a 16-point lead in the first quarter before going cold in the third.
 
The two teams combined for 29 made three-pointers, the most in a single game during Lubbock Christian's NCAA era. LCU also recorded a season-high 21 assists and committed just seven fouls.

How It Happened
The game opened with a Brianna Sealy layup just nine seconds into the first quarter, setting the tone for a fast start by Metropolitan State of Denver. Martie McCoy answered with LCU's first field goal, but the Lady Chaps went scoreless for nearly three minutes thereafter as MSU Denver rattled off an 8–0 run to take a 10–2 lead. Raegan Lee snapped the drought by scoring LCU's next five points, including the first three-pointer of the game. That basket ignited a stretch in which seven of the next eight made field goals—by both teams—came from beyond the arc. While the Lady Chaps connected on three of those triples, the Roadrunners answered with four, highlighted by back-to-back three-pointers from Brooklynn Jones during a 14–3 MSUD surge that extended the lead to 26–10 with 1:46 remaining in the quarter. Freshman Kyndle Cunningham halted the run with a three-pointer—the final make in a sequence dominated by perimeter shooting—which sparked a 7–0 LCU run to close the quarter trailing 26–17. Lee and Cunningham each scored five points in the opening frame for LCU, which faced an MSU Denver team that shot a blistering 64.7 percent from the field (11-of-17) and 4-of-6 from three-point range in the first quarter (MSUD had a stretch in the quarter in which they made sixth consecutive field goal attempts and was 10-of-12 from the field).
 
Martie McCoy sparked the Chaps early in the second quarter with a three-pointer and a layup, which was part of a stretch carried over from the first quarter in which LCU made nine consecutive field goal attempts, capping a 12-0 run and narrowing the gap to 26-22 against the Roadrunners. Nevaeh Millard responded for the home team, scoring a layup and a fast-break free throw to extend their lead. Kennedy Chappell of the Lady Chaps consistently contributed, tallying 12 points in the quarter. Despite efforts from Chappell and a trey from Mattie Dollar to cap a 7-0 run (had LCU trailing by three points at 37-34 with 5:22 left in the frame), MSUD maintained their edge with key three-pointers from Madison Johnson, securing a 49-40 advantage late in the quarter, and both teams scored 23 points in the quarter (Nevaeh Millard had 11 in the quarter). While LCU shot 43.6% (17/39) in the half from the field and 6-of-12 (50%) from the three-point range, the Roadrunners were shooting a blistering 9-of-15 (60%) from downtown and 55.9% (19/34 from the field).
 
Lubbock Christian surged ahead in the third quarter with a strong offensive display, outscoring Metro State 19-8 in the period. Meg Meekins and Cunningham each contributed significantly with three-pointers at 8:09 and 6:49, which were part of an 8-0 run to start the half for LCU trailed 49-48. MSUD's Madison Johnson drained a three-pointer to end the LCU run 5:24 into the quarter, which also marked the Roadrunners first points of the half.  LCU continued their rally though, as Cunningham hit a three-pointer with 2:19 left in the quarter for LCU's first lead of the game (54-52). Maddie Moyers added to the momentum with a three-pointer at 1:46, assisted by Meekins, who closed the 11-0 run with a field goal for a 59-52 LCU lead with 1:22 left in the quarter. Despite a late three-pointer from Johnson for the Roadrunners with 40 seconds left (she had six of MSUD's eight points in the quarter), the Chaps maintained a 59-57 lead heading into the final quarter behind Cunningham's six points in the quarter (Meekins also added five).
 
In the final quarter, the Chaps maintained a steady lead over Metro State, ultimately securing an 80-73 victory. Moyers initiated the scoring with a three-pointer at 9:49, assisted by McCoy, setting the tone for the visitors, who opened the quarter with an 11-2 run. Allen and McCoy each added three-pointers, with McCoy also contributing three assists during the quarter. MSUD's Mikylah Espinosa responded with consecutive scoring plays, including a three-pointer at 5:45, but the Chaparrals' consistent free-throw shooting by Chappell and timely defensive rebounds helped maintain their advantage with a 10-4 run, as LCU led as much as 80-68. LCU, outscoring MSUD 40-24 in the second half, leaned on Cunningham's nine points (in the half) and the team's 9-of-17 (52.9%) shooting from outside in the half. MSUD cooled down in the second half, going 32.1% (9/28) from the field in the half (5/15 from three-point range).
 
Game Notes
» Lubbock Christian delivered a historic night from long range Thursday, connecting on 15 three-pointers—tied for the sixth-most made in a game by the Lady Chaps since 2008 and establishing a new program record for three-pointers in a road contest. The total marked LCU's highest three-point output since knocking down 18 against Cameron on Jan. 25, 2025. Metropolitan State of Denver matched the perimeter fireworks, burying 14 triples—its highest single-game total since Jan. 19, 2019, against New Mexico Highlands—as the two teams combined for 29 three-pointers, the most by two teams in a game during LCU's NCAA era. LCU finished 15-of-29 from beyond the arc, with the 29 attempts matching a season high and seven different Lady Chaps connecting from deep, while MSUD went 14-of-30 with six players hitting at least one three-pointer.
 
» Thursday's comeback marked a milestone moment in program history, as Lubbock Christian erased a 16-point deficit—the largest overcome by the Lady Chaps in their NCAA era. The previous high-water mark also came against MSU Denver, when LCU rallied from a 15-point deficit on Nov. 9, 2018. It was the second time this season the Lady Chaps have climbed out of a deficit of 13 points or more, having also rallied from 13 down in the season-opening win over Adams State.
 
» Freshman Kyndle Cunningham delivered a solid performance off the bench Thursday night, as she finished with a career-high 14 points, connecting on all four of her three-point attempts to post a perfect 100.0% shooting night from beyond the arc. She became the first Lady Chap to go 4-for-4 or better from three-point range in a game since Shaylee Stovall accomplished the feat at Texas Woman's on Jan. 21, 2023. Cunningham was one of five Lady Chaps to score in double figures, joining Taylor Allen and Maddie Moyers in providing LCU with 10 different players to produce a double-figure point performance this season (Allen, Cunningham and Moyers all producing career-best performances to have their first double-figure point outings of the season and of their LCU career).
 
» Kennedy Chappell had 18 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists (led LCU in all three categories) to became the second different Lady Chaps player in their NCAA era (since start of 2013-14 season) with a stat line of at least that number in those three categories, and it is the sixth time it has been completed, as Nicole Hampton had five games of a stat line consisting of 18+ points, 8+ rebounds and 7+ assists. Chappell opened the game 6-of-8 from the field with 12 points in the opening half (all in the second quarter). The performance marked the 22nd double-figure scoring game of her LCU career, as she has double figures in points in 12 of 13 games this season and in her last eight consecutive games.
 
» Martie McCoy had a hefty statistical night as well, posting 11 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals and 2 blocks (matched a career high). Only Hannah Harbin (Dec. 3, 2016) has had a stat line of 11+ points, 6+ rebounds, 6+ assists, 2+ steals and 2+ blocks in LCU's NCAA era. McCoy's 11 points marked her sixth game of double figures this season (ninth in her LCU career).
 
» Freshman Meg Meekins opened the second half with a three-pointer, extending her streak to three-pointer tallied in all 13 games this season. The streak of 13 consecutive games with at least one three-pointer is tied for the sixth-most in LCU's NCAA scheduling era (started 2013-14 season). The record in the era is 27 by Ashton Duncan during the 2019-20 season.  Meekins.
 
» Taylor Allen (3/4) and Maddie Moyers (3/6) each had a trio of three-pointers, with Allen's efforts marking a career high and Moyers matching a career high. The pair (joining Cunningham as mentioned earlier) each had career-high 11-point outings.
 
» There were not many whistles Thursday, as LCU committed only seven fouls (fewest since four on Dec. 12, 2023 vs. Texas A&M-Kingsville) and MSU Denver committed eight, for just 15 combined fouls. The fewest in a LCU game since a combined 15 on Jan. 20, 2024 against Western New Mexico. LCU (7-of-8 from the free-throw line) and MSUD combined for 12 free-throw attempts, which is the fewest since a combined nine on Dec. 12, 2023.
 
» LCU was coming off a Tuesday night loss at Colo. Colorado Springs (UCCS) in which they had a season-low seven assists. Thursday, they notched a season-high 21 assists.
 
» The Lady Chaps improved to 6-2 all-time against MSU Denver, as the two teams were meeting for the first time since Nov. 9, 2019. LCU also improved to 2-1 all-time against MSU Denver inside Auraria Events Center, where LCU was playing for the first time since Nov. 11, 2016.
 
» Playing the fourth game of a seven-game road swing, LCU improved to 5–1 in road contests this season.
 
» LCU's next game will be in the 2026 calendar year, so with Thursday marking LCU's final game of the 2025 calendar year, LCU's 2025 calendar record is completed with a mark of 35-3 (92.1%).
 
Here is a year-by-year look since 2015 of LCU's calendar-record success.

2025 – 35-3 (92.1%) 
2024 – 23-10 (69.7%)
2023 – 23-10 (69.7%)
2022 – 26-9 (74.3%)
2021 - 32-2 (94.1%)
2020 - 19-3 (86.4%)
2019 - 22-1 (95.7%)
2018 - 29-5 (85.3%)
2017 - 26-5 (83.9%)
2016 - 29-10 (74.4%)
2015 - 24-4 (85.7%)

Next Up
LCU finally hits the Christmas break and will take a brief holiday break before returning to the hardwood Jan. 2, 2026 in Austin, Texas against St. Edward's for a Lone Star Conference match.