LUBBOCK, Texas (December 6, 2025) – No. 4 Lubbock Christian University wraps up its opening weekend in the Lone Star Conference with a matinee Saturday matchup, hosting Angelo State in a 1 p.m. clash at Rip Griffin Center.
 
CONFERENCE-OPENING
Lubbock Christian University opened Lone Star Conference play with a 65–59 win over UT Permian Basin, extending its home winning streak to 21 games and remaining perfect on the season. Despite shooting a season-low 33.3%, the Lady Chaps relied on defense, a 23-of-30 performance at the free-throw line, and balanced scoring to move to 20–3 all-time in conference openers under Steve Gomez and 32–1 overall against UTPB. Kennedy Chappell led with 12 points, while freshmen Meg Meekins (11) and Raegan Lee (10) added key production. Martie McCoy delivered one of the most versatile outings of LCU's NCAA era, finishing with 9 points, a career-high 9 rebounds and 7 assists—only the fourth different Lady Chap since 2013–14 to reach those marks in a single game. LCU built a 22–13 first-quarter lead and controlled most of the second half, using a 13–0 run spanning the third and fourth quarters to stay in front. UTPB was paced by Kenadi Rising's 15-point, 11-rebound double-double, while the Falcons outrebounded LCU 42–33 but shot just 36% from the field. Four additional Falcons scored at least eight points, but LCU's late execution and defensive stability secured the conference-opening victory.
 
CHAP-TIVATING STATS: 5 LADY CHAP FACTS
1 > Division II's No. 1 Freshman Sharpshooter & an Elite Perimeter Attack
LCU remains one of Division II's most dangerous perimeter teams, ranking No. 2 in the LSC / No. 20 nationally in 3-point percentage (.368) and No. 2 in the LSC / No. 24 nationally in threes per game (8.8). The Lady Chaps attempted 21 threes vs. UTPB and continue to average 23.8 attempts per game, ranking No. 65 nationally. Freshman Meg Meekins remains the LSC's top long-range threat, ranking No. 1 in the conference / No. 9 nationally in threes per game (3.25) and No. 1 in the LSC / No. 19 nationally in percentage (.481).
 
2 > Chappell: A Nationally Ranked Floor General Driving LCU's Offense
Kennedy Chappell remains one of the nation's most effective all-around point guards, ranking No. 1 in the LSC / No. 11 nationally in total assists (37) and No. 1 LSC / No. 33 nationally in APG (4.6). She pairs that with 15.8 ppg (6th LSC) on 56.0% shooting (3rd LSC / 35th nationally) and an 83.7% free-throw mark. Chappell also averages 33.6 minutes per game (3rd LSC) and ranks among conference leaders in steals (12) and assist/turnover ratio (1.42, 4th LSC).
 
3 > Meekins Emerging as an Elite National Scoring Threat
Freshman Meg Meekins continues to emerge as one of the best first-year players in Division II, ranking No. 4 in the LSC / No. 90 nationally at 16.3 ppg. She also ranks:
— No. 1 LSC / No. 4 nationally in total threes (26)
— No. 1 LSC / No. 9 nationally in threes per game (3.25)
— No. 1 LSC / No. 19 nationally in 3-pt percentage (.481)
Meekins has scored 10+ points in every game and continues to lead LCU in total field goals (43) and total points (130).
 
4 > One of Division II's Best Decision-Making Teams
Ball security continues to be a signature for LCU, which ranks No. 1 in the LSC / No. 19 nationally in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.16) and No. 1 in the LSC / No. 17 nationally in turnovers per game (13.1). The Lady Chaps also rank 2nd in the LSC in assists per game (15.3). Individually, Martie McCoy is the LSC's top ball-security guard with a 3.27 A/TO ratio (No. 1 LSC / No. 10 nationally), while Chappell stands 4th in the LSC (1.42). LCU has posted an even or positive turnover margin in seven of eight games.
 
5 > Elite Defense, Depth & Multi-Guard Versatility Fueling 8–0 Start
LCU ranks among the nation's top defensive units, sitting No. 4 in the LSC / No. 50 nationally in scoring defense (57.1 ppg) and No. 5 in the LSC / No. 60 nationally in scoring margin (+10.9). Ten players have delivered at least 3.5 ppg, and LCU's bench averages 19.0 ppg, ranking 10th in the LSC. The Lady Chaps continue to operate efficiently from the floor (43.0% FG, 4th LSC) with four players shooting above 44% (Chappell .560, Mathews .541, Allen .471, Moyers .444). LCU has also won 21 straight home games, the second-longest DII home streak (Minnesota State has won 27 straight at home).
 
SWEET HOME (ON) CHICAGO
LCU, who went 13-0 at home last season, is off to a 3-0 start on the home floor this season. Meg Meekins leads LCU at home with a pace of 20.0 points a game and has 12 three-pointers at home this season (next closest on the team has three). Kennedy Chappell is also averaging 15.7 points and 5.0 rebounds per game at home. LCU has won 21 straight home games, which actively ranks tied for second in NCAA Division II (their 12-game road win streak actively is tied for third in NCAA Division II).
 
On Feb. 2, 2023, LCU's NCAA Division II record home win streak ended at 113 games with a loss to Angelo State. The defeat marked the Lady Chaps' first home loss since Jan. 1, 2015, against Oklahoma City University. During the streak, LCU also posted a 7-0 record in NCAA postseason play in Lubbock (excluding a 4-0 mark in LSC postseason play) and won 88 consecutive home conference games, with their last conference home loss occurring on Jan. 10, 2013, also against Oklahoma City. LCU achieved a perfect 49-0 record in Heartland Conference home games and went 11-0 against nationally ranked opponents during the streak.

NCAA DIVISION II'S LONGEST HOME WIN STREAKS
113 - Lubbock Christian Jan. 1, 2015 - Feb. 2, 2023
87 - Neb. Kearney Jan. 31, 1995-Nov. 24, 2001
85 - West Tex. A&M Jan. 9, 1987-Dec. 6, 1991
 
EYE-OPENING
The 2025-26 season marks LCU's 13th since leaving the NAIA and LCU is 327-62 record (84.1%) in that span. In NCAA postseason play, the Lady Chaps are 27-5 all-time (78.1%).
 
NATIONALLY KNOWN
Prior to this season, national rankings were conducted by WBCA and D2CSC in NCAA Division II women's basketball, but a decision was made to discontinue D2CSC top-25 polls in all sports, so the WBCA is the lone national poll available for NCAA Division II women's basketball. LCU, who closed last season ranked No.7 in the final WBCA Coaches Poll, opened this season at No.13 in the WBCA Preseason Coaches Poll. They are currently ranked No.4 nationally in the poll, moving up from No.6 last week. Heading into LSC play, LCU is the only program in NCAA Div. II with both of their men's and women's basketball programs in the top-10 (LCU's men's program is No.4 in NABC poll) and LCU is one of four programs in NCAA Division II with both of their basketball programs unbeaten.
 
CONFERENCE OPENERS
LCU opened conference play Wednesday with a victory over UT Permian Basin, which improved LCU to 20-3 all-time in conference openers under head coach Steve Gomez (6-1 in Lone Star Conference openers). This season marked the first time LCU has opened conference play with UT Permian Basin and the meeting is their earliest meeting since a Nov. 17, 2018 meeting inside Rip Griffin Center (Arbor Hotels Classic, as LCU was in the Heartland Conference and UTPB was in their third season as LSC members).
 
LCU won the West Division (of the LSC) last season with a 14-0 mark and finished as LSC regular season co-champs (with Texas Woman's) with a 21-1 conference record. Divisional play goes away for the first time since the 2021-22 season, as all 17 LSC programs will be under one set of standings. New to the LSC this season is UT Dallas, who made the move to the LSC from NCAA Division III.
 
FIVE FACTS ABOUT ASU       
1 > Angelo State enters Lubbock at 1–5 overall and 0–1 in the Lone Star Conference after a 65–58 road loss at Midwestern State on Wednesday. ASU briefly took the lead in the third quarter but faded late, missing seven of its final 10 shots. The Rambelles continue to lean on their interior game—outscoring MSU 34–22 in the paint and winning the glass 47–36—but early-season struggles persist offensively. ASU is averaging 56.2 points per game (12th in LSC) while shooting 33.1% from the field and 22.3% from three (both 14th in LSC). Turnovers remain a major issue at 23.2 per game (13th in LSC), contributing to a scoring margin of –8.5. Even so, their defensive identity travels: ASU ranks fourth in the LSC and No. 60 nationally in field-goal defense (.360).
 
2 > ASU remains one of Division II's elite shot-blocking teams, ranking 3rd in the LSC and 20th nationally at 5.0 blocks per game. Senior center Keniah Williams leads the conference and sits No. 6 nationally with 3.17 blocks per game (19 total). She has been the anchor of a defense that ranks sixth in the LSC in turnovers forced (19.8 per game) and fifth in three-point percentage defense (.282).
 
3 > Williams is also among the LSC's premier rebounders, averaging 8.7 boards per game (third in the LSC) and ranking top-85 nationally in both offensive (3.2) and defensive (5.5) rebounding. She has logged two double-doubles this season—tied for the LSC lead—and is coming off a 17-point, 9-rebound, 2-block performance at MSU. Williams enters Saturday with 60 points, 52 rebounds and 19 blocks through six games.
 
4 > The backcourt tandem of Majik Esquivel and Taylor Grona continues to drive ASU's perimeter production. Esquivel leads the team at 11.5 PPG, shooting .341 and ranking eighth in the LSC with 10 made threes. She matched Williams with 17 points on Wednesday, including two momentum-shifting third-quarter triples. Grona adds 10.3 PPG, ranks fourth in the LSC with 16 steals, and sits among the league's leaders in minutes (32.1). The pair combines for 31 steals (5.2 per game), making them one of the most active defensive duos in the conference.
 
5 > Despite offensive inconsistency, the Rambelles excel on the glass—especially on the offensive end—ranking No. 1 in the LSC and No. 26 nationally with 16.2 offensive boards per game. ASU is second in the LSC in total rebounding (41.5 per game) and has outrebounded opponents in three of its last four contests. Their ability to generate second-chance points has kept them competitive even on cold shooting nights.
 
THE SERIES AGAINST ASU
LCU leads the series with a 19-7 all-time mark. The two teams have split the last six meetings, but LCU swept the season series last season to win the prior two meetings. The two teams have met 18 times since 2012, but had not met since Nov. 30, 2001 prior to that. LCU is 10-2 all-time against ASU in Lubbock. The Lady Chaps have won seven of the prior eight meetings in Lubbock.
 
PRIOR MEETING VS. ASU
LUBBOCK, Texas (February 13, 2024) – LCU 75 - ASU 60
No. 11 Lubbock Christian strengthened its hold atop the Lone Star Conference with a 75–60 win over Angelo State, highlighted by a historic night from Grace Foster. The senior forward delivered 21 points and 11 rebounds, becoming LCU's all-time leading scorer and the first player in program history to surpass 1,800 career points. Her milestone jumper opened the scoring and set the tone for LCU's 13th straight victory, keeping the Lady Chaps unbeaten at home (12–0), perfect in divisional play (12–0), and tied for first in the LSC at 17–1.
 
LCU had four players finish in double figures, with Audrey Robertson adding 16 points—including four three-pointers—and Maci Maddox contributing 12 points, four assists, and two steals. The Lady Chaps shot an efficient 50% from beyond the arc, knocking down nine threes for the fifth time this season at a 50% clip. Their ball movement and efficiency were equally sharp, finishing with 17 assists against only eight turnovers.
 
Defensively, LCU limited Angelo State to 37.9% shooting, though the Belles stayed competitive on the glass with 16 offensive rebounds and a 36–22 advantage in the paint. ASU's frontcourt duo of Madeline Stephens (17 points, 11 rebounds) and Keniah Williams (14 points, 10 rebounds) each recorded double-doubles, but it wasn't enough to counter LCU's perimeter firepower and balanced scoring.
 
LCU used timely scoring runs in every quarter to maintain control. A late 8–0 burst in the first period created early separation, and a 7–0 surge in the third—capped by a Tia Johnson three—pushed the margin to double digits for good. The Lady Chaps sealed the win with a 7–0 run late in the fourth, highlighted by six points from Reese Schumann.