LUBBOCK, Texas (November 21, 2025) – No.7 Lubbock Christian University opened its home slate in emphatic fashion, riding a blistering shooting night from freshman Meg Meekins and a wire-to-wire defensive display to overpower Southern Nazarene 72–49 Friday evening at Rip Griffin Center. The victory pushed the Lady Chaps to 5–0 and extended their home win streak to 20 straight, while improving their mark in home openers under head coach Steve Gomez to 21–2.
 
Meekins electrified "The Rip" in her home debut, pouring in a game-high 24 points on 9-of-15 shooting, including six three-pointers—the seventh-highest single-game total in program history. She added six rebounds, five assists and three steals. Martie McCoy joined her in double figures with 10 points, five assists and two steals, delivering her second straight strong all-around performance.
 
LCU's balance powered its best offensive output of the season, with 13 different Lady Chaps scoring and all 15 players logging at least 4:41. LCU shot 48.2% from the floor, buried eight threes, and controlled the interior with a 38–14 advantage in paint points. The Lady Chaps also produced a commanding 20–2 margin in points off turnovers, forcing 21 SNU miscues.
 
Southern Nazarene (0–2) was paced by Halyn Browning's 10 points and Carley Gasaway's nine points (made a team-high six made free throws), while Jillian Crawford and Jena Bay each added eight. Hannah Duncan grabbed nine rebounds and scored seven points, but the Crimson Storm shot just 30.6% from the field and never led, falling behind by double digits late in the first quarter and trailing by as many as 29 in the fourth.

How It Happened
The Chaps initiated the first quarter with a strong offensive display, highlighted by Kennedy Chappell scoring on a layup assisted by Meg Meekins at 9:50. Meekins continued to contribute significantly, sinking three 3-pointers and assisting on others, helping the Chaps to a 21-11 lead by the end of the quarter. Southern Nazarene's Shannon Burton managed to keep the visitors in the game early with a jumper, but their efforts were hindered by turnovers and fouls. The Chaps capitalized on these mistakes, extending their lead with consistent free-throw shooting, including two from Chappell in the last minute. Meekins led LCU with nine points (all from beyond the arc) in the opening frame.
 
The Chaparrals extended their lead in the second quarter, fueled by a series of 3-pointers. Meekins initiated the scoring with a three-pointer at 7:23, assisted by Deja Johnson, who also contributed a three-pointer shortly afterward, pushing the score to 27-11. SNU called a timeout at 6:41 in an attempt to regroup, but Meekins struck again with another three at 6:08, further extending the lead. Despite a jumper from Jillian Crawford at 5:57, the Chaps maintained control, closing the quarter with a layup from Maddie Moyers to end the quarter, 40-21. Meekins posted 15 points at the break off 5-of-8 (5-of-6 from long-distance) shooting.
 
The Chaps extended their lead in the third quarter, finishing with a 59-36 advantage over the Crimson Storm. Chappell contributed significantly with key offensive rebounds and an assist, while Martie McCoy added a layup and subsequent free throws to push the score further. Halyn Browning of SNU managed to hit two 3-pointers, including one at 3:47, but it was not enough to shift the momentum. The Chaps capitalized on turnovers, with McCoy securing a crucial steal at 8:08, leading to a basket that helped maintain their lead (McCoy led LCU with seven points in the period).
 
In the final quarter, the Chaps maintained their lead to secure a balanced scoring period against the Crimson Storm. Meekins contributed significantly with two layups, including one at 6:52 with an assist from Moyers, pushing the home team's score to 65-38. SNU's Jena Bay responded with a 3-pointer at 4:56, narrowing the gap slightly. With 40 seconds left, Ally Ihler's layup and subsequent free throw extended the Chaparrals' lead to 72-47. Carley Gasaway's free throws in the final moments brought the final score to 72-49, with both teams scoring 13 points in the quarter. Like LCU's prior game, all 15 players dressed participated, and no player played less than 4:41.

Game Notes
» Meg Meekins opened the game 3-of-3 from three-point range in the first quarter and finished with six three-point field goals and a 24-point performance. The six three-pointers is tied for seventh in program history, and it was two away from tying the program single-game record. The freshman was playing in her first home game, and her hot start drew comparisons to Emily Atkins (Pool) 36-point performance, which broke a school record, in her first-ever game in "The Rip" on Nov. 5, 2010 against Northern New Mexico.
 
» LCU led wire-to-wire for the first time this season. They led for 39:50, never trailing in the game.
 
» The Lady Chaps improved to 21-2 all-time in their home openers under head coach Steve Gomez. LCU, who went 14-0 last season at home, claimed their 20^th consecutive home win.
 
» Meekins had a balanced statline, as along with her 6-of-8 performance beyond the arc to fuel a 24-point night, she had six rebounds, five assists and three steals. Martie McCoy also chipped in with 10 points, five assists and two steals. The last time LCU had two players with double figures in points, while also adding at least five assists and two steals was Nov. 11, 2022, as Audrey Robertson and Maci Maddox each had statlines meeting the criteria.  
 
» LCU forced 21 turnovers, while committing 17 themselves, but had a 20-2 scoring advantage in points-off-turnovers
 
» The Lady Chaps trail the all-time series 15-36 to Southern Nazarene. The meeting in Lubbock was the first since Nov. 16, 2018, which LCU won 65-40. LCU has won nine of the prior 12 meetings against SNU and are 13-12 all-time under Gomez against SNU.
  
Next Up
LCU remains inside Rip Griffin Center Saturday, as LCU hosts Southern Arkansas for the final game of the Fairfield Inn Classic hosted by LCU with a 6 p.m. start inside Rip Griffin Center.