LUBBOCK, Texas (Nov. 13, 2026) – The Colorado State University Pueblo women's basketball team opened its 2026-27 season Friday evening with a 62-53 setback against Lubbock Christian University at the Rip Griffin Center.
The ThunderWolves (0-1) jumped out to an early double-digit advantage behind a strong opening quarter but were unable to withstand a second-quarter rally from the Lady Chaps (4-1), who outscored the Pack 21-8 in the period to take a halftime lead.
Senior transfer Kate Gallery led CSU Pueblo offensively with a team-high 15 points and five rebounds in her ThunderWolves debut. The Pueblo West, Colo., native shot 6-of-13 from the field and connected on three of her five attempts from beyond the arc.
Talia Strode provided a spark off the bench, finishing with 14 points on an efficient 5-of-8 shooting performance, including a pair of three-pointers. Shelomi Sanders also reached double figures in her Pack debut, recording 10 points with two triples.
CSU Pueblo came out firing in the opening quarter, using a strong defensive effort and efficient shooting to establish control. After falling behind 1-0, the ThunderWolves responded with six consecutive points, including back-to-back layups from Jaz Salon.
Gallery quickly made her presence felt, scoring 13 consecutive CSU Pueblo points during a stretch of the first quarter, including two three-pointers, to help the Pack build an 11-point advantage. The ThunderWolves shot 53.3 percent from the floor in the opening period and held Lubbock Christian to just 25 percent shooting to take a 20-9 lead into the second quarter.
The Lady Chaps responded with a 9-0 run to open the second period, cutting CSU Pueblo's lead to five points at 20-15. Sanders helped steady the ThunderWolves with five points, including a three-pointer, while Gallery knocked down another triple to push the Pack's advantage to 28-22 with 5:55 remaining in the half.
However, Lubbock Christian closed the quarter on an 8-0 run, tying the contest at 28 on a three-point play by Kennedy Chappell before taking its first lead since the opening minutes on a Kaelie Massenburg jumper with 36 seconds remaining. The Lady Chaps carried a 30-28 advantage into the locker room.
The ThunderWolves opened the second half with five unanswered points, including a three-pointer from freshman Kjani Anitielu, to regain a 33-30 lead with 8:45 remaining in the third quarter.
Lubbock Christian answered with an 11-0 run to take a 41-33 advantage midway through the period. The Lady Chaps eventually extended their lead to 10 points before CSU Pueblo closed the quarter with six of the final six points, highlighted by four points from Strode and a layup from Dasani Nesbit, to trim the deficit to 45-39 entering the final 10 minutes.
In the fourth quarter, Lubbock Christian pulled away behind a 13-2 run to open the period, extending its advantage to 58-41 with 5:36 remaining. The ThunderWolves continued to battle, using three-pointers from Sanders and Strode down the stretch, but the deficit proved too large to overcome.
CSU Pueblo finished the evening shooting 37.0 percent (20-of-54) from the field, including 30.8 percent (8-of-26) from three-point range. The ThunderWolves were efficient at the free-throw line, converting five of their six attempts.
Defensively, the Pack forced 15 Lubbock Christian turnovers and recorded eight steals. The Lady Chaps held a 40-31 rebounding advantage and outscored CSU Pueblo 36-22 in the paint.
Along with the three double-digit scorers, Salon finished with five points and two assists, while Nesbit contributed four points, five rebounds, two steals and a blocked shot. Laci Roffle added five rebounds and a block, while Gabby Louther recorded a team-high three assists and two steals.
Lubbock Christian was led by Maddie Moyers, who scored 14 points off the bench and knocked down four three-pointers. Chappell and Mattie Dollar each added 11 points, while Chappell pulled down a game-high eight rebounds.
The ThunderWolves will look to bounce back Saturday, Nov. 14, when they face UT Tyler in their second game of the opening weekend in Lubbock, Texas. Tipoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. MT.
