ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (November 1, 2025) – Freshman guard Meg Meekins scored a team-high 15 points in her collegiate debut, and Kennedy Chappell added 13 points and six assists as No.13 Lubbock Christian University rallied from a 13-point deficit in their season opener to defeat Adams State 66–57 Saturday afternoon at the D2CCA Tip-Off Classic inside St. Joseph Civic Arena.
 
The win improved the Lady Chaps to 1–0, while Adams State — which entered the day receiving votes in the WBCA Division II Coaches Poll — fell to 1–1. The victory marked LCU's second straight season-opening win and extended its D2CCA Tip-Off Classic win streak to four straight wins over its participation in the event(s).
 
Chappell, who scored 11 of her 13 points in the second half, led a poised LCU attack that committed just 10 turnovers and shot 8-of-26 (30.8%) from beyond the arc. Meekins sealed the win with seven of her 15 points in the fourth quarter. Senior Tia Johnson added eight points and six rebounds, while senior Martie McCoy chipped in five points and five rebounds before fouling out late.
 
For Adams State, Kiiyani Anitielu led all scorers with 17 points, and Taejhuan Hill posted a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds. The Grizzlies were held to just 34.4% shooting (23-of-67) after opening the game with a 23-point first quarter.

How It Happened
Adams State jumped out to a commanding 23–14 first-quarter lead, fueled by four three-pointers. While LCU opened the game 0-of-4 from the field with three turnovers, the Grizzlies were on a 12-0 run to open the game. Meekins put LCU on the board for the season 3:22 into the game with a three-pointer. Kimber Mathews came off the bench and led LCU with five points.
 
Lubbock Christian flipped the tone of the game in the second quarter, outscoring Adams State 16–9 to claw within two points by halftime, 32–30, after trailing by as many as 13 early. The Lady Chaps used a strong defensive effort to cool the Grizzlies' hot start, holding Adams State to just 3-of-17 shooting (17.6%) in the frame while forcing five turnovers.
 
Tia Johnson sparked the rally with a three-pointer off a turnover a minute into the quarter, followed shortly by another triple from Maddie Moyers, slicing the deficit to three. Meekins fueled the comeback midway through the period, scoring four straight LCU points — off back-to-back layups that cut the margin to 26–24.
 
After Adams State briefly pushed its lead back to five, Kimber Mathews knocked down a jumper off a Chappell assist, and Johnson connected again from deep with 1:13 left to pull the Lady Chaps within three (32-29). LCU closed the half on a 4–0 run, with Chappell tallying three assists in the quarter, helping LCU regain momentum heading into the break. Johnson (6) and Meekins (5) combined for 11 points in the second quarter. Meekins (8) and Mathews (7) combined for 15 points in the first half to pace the Lady Chaps offense.
 
Lubbock Christian and the Grizzlies remained neck-and-neck throughout the third quarter, with neither team able to establish a definitive lead. Chappell's layup tied the score at 32 just over a minute in. Raegan Lee responded to an Ashiian Hunter 3-pointer by connecting from beyond the arc herself, equalizing the game once more at 35. As the quarter wound down, Moyers hit a jumper in the paint to knot the score at 43, where it stayed as the period ended after defensive stops by both sides.
 
LCU tied the score four times in the third quarter, but they would not take their first lead until the fourth quarter. Chappell contributed significantly, opening with a jumper12 seconds into the quarter for LCU's first lead. Tied 50-50 (5:32 left), LCU went on an 8-2 run. Meekins scored crucial points, including a 3-pointer at the 1:39 mark, and went 4-of-6 from the free-throw line, extending the lead late in the quarter. Taylor Allen and Johnson each added two free throws in the final minute to solidify the win. Despite a late tip-in by Taejhuan Hill for the Grizzlies, the Chaps maintained control throughout the quarter.

Game Notes
» The win improved LCU to 31-16 all-time in season openers, improving to 15-8 in season openers under head coach Steve Gomez (11-8 over their last 19 openers). LCU's win gives them wins in consecutive season openers.
 
» This is LCU's fifth consecutive season they have opened the season participating in a D2CCA Tip-Off event. They are 7-3 all-time in D2CCA events, with Saturday's win marking fourth consecutive victory (2021 – Billings, Mont., 2022 – Kansas City, Mo., 2023 – Lubbock, Texas, 2024 – Canyon, Texas, 2025 – St. Joseph, Mo.).
 
» LCU's starting lineup consisted of Martie McCoy (32 career starts), Tia Johnson (0 prior starts), Meg Meekins (0 prior starts, freshman), Kennedy Chappell (47 career starts) and Raegan Lee (0 career starts, freshman), which included two freshman and a combined 79 career starts among the quintet.
 
» Twelve (12) different Lady Chaps appeared on the floor, with Meg Meekins, Raegan Lee, Kyndle Cunningham, Ally Ihler and Kaitlyn McAdoo making their collegiate debut.
 
» LCU was 8-of-26 (30.8%) from three-point range in the game, but receiving three-pointers from six different players. It is the second consecutive season LCU had three-pointers from six different players in their season opener. LCU had six-or-more individuals make a three-pointer in the same game on seven occasions last season.
 
» The Lady Chaps committed just 10 turnovers in the game, producing four in the second half.
 
» Kennedy Chappell notched her 11^th career game of double figures in points with 13 points. She was 6-of-8 inside the perimeter and also produced a career-high six assists. She posted 11 of her 13 points in the second half.
 
» LCU was led in scoring by freshman Meg Meekins, who had 15 points She produced seven of the 15 points in the fourth quarter of play.
 
» The Lady Chaps overcame a 13-point deficit in the game. The last time LCU overcame a deficit that steep (or worse) was Nov. 19, 2021, as they overcame a 13-point deficit to defeat No.1 Lander in Lubbock.
 
» Kennedy Chappel's bucket 12 seconds into the fourth quarter provided LCU a 45-43 lead, which was not only LCU's first lead of the game, but it was the game's only lead change.
 
» LCU improved to 7-0 all-time against Adams State, as the two programs have history dating to 1999. The Lady Chaps improve to 3-0 against the Grizzlies in neutral site play. They were meeting for the first time since the 2023 D2CCA tip-off event LCU hosted (Nov.5, 2023). ASU was LCU's first win of the 2023-24 season and this season.
  
Next Up
LCU closes out their Missouri stay Sunday with a 2 p.m. tip against local Missouri Western State inside St. Joseph Civic Arena.