CANYON, Texas — MSU Denver opened the Lynn Kennedy era on Friday night, falling 66–53 at UT Permian Basin in the season opener inside the Falcon Dome. The Roadrunners (0–1) showed flashes—especially early—but a tough shooting night in the middle quarters allowed the Falcons (1–0) to pull away.

MSU Denver jumped out with a strong first quarter, shooting 58 percent from the floor and taking a 19–16 lead after 10 minutes. UT Permian Basin responded with a 17-point second quarter and held the Roadrunners to just 10 points heading into halftime.

Jadyn Watts and Maggie Teven each finished with 10 points to pace the Roadrunners. Watts added four rebounds and a steal in 29 minutes, while Teven went a perfect 4-for-4 from the free throw line and chipped in five boards.

Senior point guard Mikylah Espinosa turned in a well-rounded debut, posting eight points, five assists, and two steals, and Sarah Nocke provided efficient minutes with seven points on 3-for-6 shooting. Off the bench, Brianna Sealy added eight points and a team-high four steals.

MSU Denver held its own on the glass (25 rebounds) and scored 28 points in the paint, but 25 turnovers and a cold stretch in the fourth quarter allowed the Falcons to maintain control late.

The Roadrunners continue their Texas road trip on Sunday, traveling to West Texas A&M for a 1 p.m. tipoff. It will be another early-season test as MSU Denver looks to secure the first win of the Kennedy era.