LUBBOCK, Texas (Nov. 13, 2026) - A 13-point first-quarter deficit and a sluggish offensive start gave way to a familiar defensive turnaround Friday night, as Lubbock Christian University rode a career-high 14 points and four three-pointers from
Maddie Moyers to rally past Colorado State Pueblo 62-53 in the opening day of the Food King Classic inside Rip Griffin Center.
The Lady Chaparrals (4-1) trailed 20-9 after the opening quarter before flipping the script with a 21-8 second period, closing the first half on an 8-0 run to take a 30-28 advantage into the locker room. LCU then used an 11-0 third-quarter surge to take control and eventually built a 17-point lead in the fourth quarter to hand the ThunderWolves (0-1) a season-opening defeat.
The victory marked LCU's sixth consecutive win over CSU Pueblo and extended its home winning streak to 32 victories in its last 33 games inside Rip Griffin Center. The Lady Chaps also improved to 2-0 at home this season, winning the second game of their six-game homestand.
Moyers, making just her second appearance of the season after debuting Monday against Western Colorado, delivered a career performance off the bench. The junior connected on 5-of-7 field-goal attempts, including 4-of-6 from three-point range, to establish career highs in points (14), made three-pointers (four) and rebounds (seven). She also matched a career high with two assists while recording the third double-figure scoring performance of her LCU career.
The performance continued a productive opening week for Moyers, who scored 10 points in Monday's home opener, one point shy of matching her previous career high of 11. Her four three-pointers Friday accounted for more than half of LCU's seven makes from beyond the arc.
Kennedy Chappell and
Mattie Dollar added 11 points apiece, with Chappell collecting a team-high eight rebounds and four assists. The returning All-American scored six points and grabbed five rebounds after halftime, recording the 40th double-figure scoring performance of her LCU career and third of the season.
Dollar continued her streak of reaching double figures in every game this season, connecting on five field goals while adding three steals. The sophomore has matched her career high in steals three times this season, including consecutive games against Western Colorado and CSU Pueblo. Dollar entered the season with just two career double-figure scoring performances but has already produced five in as many games this season.
Meg Meekins and
Kimber Mathews contributed eight points apiece, with Meekins adding six rebounds and two assists. Mathews also collected six rebounds and helped LCU create separation in the fourth quarter with a three-point play.
Kyndle Cunningham and freshman
Kambrie Graser each added three points, with both connecting from long range.
While Moyers provided the offensive spark, LCU's defense once again supplied the foundation for the victory.
After CSU Pueblo shot 53.3% (8-of-15) from the field in the opening quarter, the Lady Chaps held the ThunderWolves to just 25% shooting (3-of-12) in the second period. CSU Pueblo went without a field goal over the final 5:55 of the half, allowing LCU to erase a six-point deficit with eight unanswered points.
It marked the second consecutive game in which LCU used a lengthy defensive stand to close the first half. Monday against Western Colorado, the Lady Chaps held the Mountaineers without a field goal over the final 8:22 of the half while closing on a 13-0 run.
Friday's performance extended LCU's season-opening streak of holding opponents below 60 points to five consecutive games, the program's longest such stretch since February 2025.
CSU Pueblo finished 20-of-54 (37%) from the field, including 8-of-26 (30.8%) from three-point range. The ThunderWolves shot a combined 29-of-81 (35.8%) from the floor over the final three quarters of their previous season opener against LCU and Friday's contest was their first game of the 2026-27 season.
LCU shot 41.7% (25-of-60) overall and 30.4% (7-of-23) from beyond the arc, overcoming its 25% shooting performance in the opening period by converting 22-of-48 shots (45.8%) over the final three quarters.
The Lady Chaps controlled the interior, outrebounding CSU Pueblo 40-31, including a 15-10 advantage on the offensive glass. LCU outscored the ThunderWolves 36-22 in the paint and held a 15-6 advantage in second-chance points. The Lady Chaps also distributed 14 assists, compared to six for CSU Pueblo, and outscored the ThunderWolves 20-18 in bench production.
CSU Pueblo received a team-high 15 points from Kate Gallery, who connected on three three-pointers and added five rebounds. Gallery was instrumental in the ThunderWolves' early success, scoring 12 of her points in the opening quarter. Reserve Talia Strode provided 14 points on 5-of-8 shooting, including two three-pointers, while Shelomi Sanders contributed 10 points and two triples. Dasani Nesbit added four points, five rebounds and two steals off the bench.
The ThunderWolves controlled much of the opening half and briefly reclaimed a 33-30 advantage early in the third quarter. However, LCU answered with 11 consecutive points, highlighted by Moyers' fourth three-pointer of the night, to establish a 41-33 lead with 4:44 remaining in the period.
CSU Pueblo trimmed the deficit to six entering the final quarter, but the Lady Chaps opened the fourth with an 11-2 surge to build a 56-41 advantage before Chappell extended the margin to a game-high 17 points with 5:36 remaining.
The ThunderWolves scored the final seven points of the contest, but the late rally came after LCU had established a comfortable cushion.
How It Happened
First Quarter
LCU opened the contest with a free throw from
Kaelie Massenburg, but CSU Pueblo quickly established momentum behind Kate Gallery and Jaz Salon. Salon converted consecutive layups to give the ThunderWolves a 4-1 lead before two free throws from Laci Roffle extended the advantage to five. Moyers provided LCU's first field goal with a three-pointer at the 5:52 mark, trimming the deficit to 6-4, but Gallery answered with a three-pointer 19 seconds later. Gallery then added consecutive baskets to extend CSU Pueblo's lead to 13-4 with 4:26 remaining. Moyers connected on her second triple of the period at the 4:06 mark, but Dasani Nesbit answered with a basket before Gallery buried another three-pointer with 1:42 remaining to stretch the lead to 18-7. Gallery capped her 12-point opening quarter with a jumper at the 44-second mark, pushing the ThunderWolves' advantage to a game-high 13 points. Dollar converted a layup with 33 seconds remaining to trim the deficit to 20-9 entering the second period. CSU Pueblo shot 53.3% (8-of-15) in the quarter, while LCU managed just 25% (3-of-12), with Moyers accounting for six of the Lady Chaps' nine points.
Second Quarter
The Lady Chaps wasted little time beginning their comeback, as Moyers opened the second period with her third three-pointer of the night just 18 seconds into play. Dollar followed with a layup, and Massenburg added a free throw to trim the deficit to 20-15. CSU Pueblo briefly answered with a Sanders jumper, but Graser connected from beyond the arc at the 7:26 mark to pull LCU within four points. Sanders responded with a three-pointer before Chappell scored inside and Dollar added a basket to make it 25-22. Gallery temporarily halted LCU's momentum with a three-pointer at the 5:55 mark, extending the ThunderWolves' lead to 28-22. It would be CSU Pueblo's final points of the half. Mathews began the decisive 8-0 run with a three-pointer at the 3:58 mark, and Chappell followed with a layup and free throw with 1:59 remaining to tie the contest at 28-28. Massenburg completed the comeback with a putback at the 36-second mark, giving the Lady Chaps a 30-28 halftime lead. LCU outscored CSU Pueblo 21-8 in the quarter, connecting on 8-of-16 field-goal attempts (50%) and three three-pointers while holding the ThunderWolves to 3-of-12 shooting (25%). CSU Pueblo missed its final field-goal attempts over the closing 5:55, while LCU turned an 11-point first-quarter deficit into a two-point halftime advantage.
Third Quarter
CSU Pueblo briefly regained momentum after halftime, opening the third quarter with a Sanders layup to tie the contest at 30-30. Kjani Anitielu followed with a three-pointer at the 8:45 mark, giving the ThunderWolves a 33-30 advantage. However, the Lady Chaps quickly responded with their most decisive scoring run of the evening. Mathews converted a jumper at the 8:29 mark, and Chappell followed with a layup to restore LCU's lead at 34-33 with 6:56 remaining. Moyers then delivered her fourth three-pointer of the contest at the 6:11 mark, extending the advantage to four. Chappell added another basket, and Meekins scored on a putback with 4:44 remaining to complete an 11-0 run and give LCU a 41-33 advantage. Talia Strode temporarily halted the surge with a jumper, but Dollar and Meekins answered with consecutive baskets to push the margin to 45-35 with 2:53 remaining. CSU Pueblo trimmed the deficit with two Strode free throws and a Nesbit layup with 59 seconds left, cutting LCU's lead to 45-39 entering the final quarter. The Lady Chaps outscored the ThunderWolves 15-11 in the period, with LCU converting 7-of-19 field-goal attempts (36.8%) while holding CSU Pueblo to 4-of-14 shooting (28.6%).
Fourth Quarter
Dollar opened the final period by turning a steal into a fast-break layup and completing a three-point play with 9:04 remaining to extend LCU's lead to 48-39. Strode answered with a jumper, but Cunningham buried a three-pointer at the 8:25 mark to restore a 10-point cushion. Meekins added a jumper with 7:29 remaining before Mathews converted a layup and free throw 24 seconds later to stretch the advantage to 56-41. Chappell followed with a layup at the 5:36 mark to give LCU its largest lead of the evening at 58-41, completing a 13-2 run that began with the Lady Chaps leading 45-39. Sanders briefly interrupted the surge with a three-pointer at the 3:57 mark, but Meekins answered with a layup and Moyers added another basket at the 2:09 mark to extend the lead to 62-46. CSU Pueblo scored the final seven points, including consecutive three-pointers from Strode in the final 1:16, but the late surge only trimmed the final margin to nine. LCU outscored the ThunderWolves 17-14 in the fourth quarter, shooting 53.8% (7-of-13) from the field while securing the 62-53 victory.
Game Notes
» Monday, in LCU's win over Western Colorado, LCU out-scored WCU 15-2 in the second quarter and closed the half on a 13-0 run (held WCU without a field goal for the final 8:22 of the half). Friday, LCU outscored CSU Pueblo 21-8 in the second quarter and closed the half on a 8-0 run. CSUP went the final 5:55 of the half without a field goal.
» The Lady Chaps, who went 11-1 at home last season, have won 32 of their last 33 home games, as they improve to 2-0 at home this season.
» Each team had the lead for at least 18 minutes, as CSU Pueblo led for 18:01 and LCU led for 18:18.
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Maddie Moyers followed her 10-point performance in her season debut (Monday) with a career-high performance Friday, as she posted a career-high 14 points, hit a career-high four three-pointers, snagged a career-high seven rebounds and tied a career high with two assists. Moyers, who was 4-of-6 from long range, hit double figures in scoring for the third time in her LCU career.
»
Mattie Dollar, who entered the season with two double-figure point performances from her freshman season, is the lone Lady Chap with double-figure performances in each game this season, as she had 11 points Friday. Dollar hit five field goals and swiped three steals. Her three steals matched a career high, which she has done three times this season and in consecutive games.
» LCU's defense has held all five of their opponents under 60 points this season. February of 2025 was the last time LCU had a string of five consecutive games holding their opponent under 60 points.
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Kennedy Chappell had six points and five rebounds in the second half to finish with 11 points and eight rebounds. Her 11 points marked the 40
th double-figure scoring performance for Chappell in her LCU career (third this season).
» LCU has won six straight meetings against the ThunderWolves and extends their lead in the all-time series to 12-5, and LCU improves to 5-0 against CSUP in Lubbock. Over the last 12 seasons, CSU Pueblo has opened their season against the Lady Chaps five times (Friday was the fifth) and LCU has claimed wins in all five games.
What's Next
The Food King Classic continues Saturday inside Rip Griffin Center. CSU Pueblo and UT Tyler face each other at 3:30 p.m., with LCU and Colorado Christian following at 6 p.m. CCU lost their season opener Friday against UT Tyler.
