LUBBOCK, Texas (August 18, 2025) - Lubbock Christian University women's basketball head coach Steve Gomez has confirmed the Lady Chaparrals will open their 2025-26 campaign with a marquee exhibition matchup, traveling to Austin on Thursday, Oct. 23 to face the University of Texas inside Moody Center.
 
The contest will serve as LCU's lone exhibition before the regular season, with game time to be announced. It will also mark the Lady Chaps' first meeting with a Division I opponent since 2019, when they faced Texas, Baylor, and Mississippi State in preseason play.
 
LCU and Texas will square off for just the second time in program history, following an 83-73 Longhorns victory on Oct. 28, 2019, at the Frank Erwin Center. Texas is led by head coach Vic Schaefer, who previously guided Mississippi State. Schaefer was also at the helm when LCU last faced a Division I opponent, a 78-57 exhibition loss at MSU on Nov. 4, 2019, in which the Lady Chaps trailed 43-41 at halftime. Adding another connection, Texas Associate Head Coach Elena Lovato served as Schaefer's assistant at Mississippi State and is a former head coach at Arkansas–Fort Smith.
 
"We have a little history, having played the University of Texas a number of years ago in an exhibition game," Gomez said. "This year's matchup came about because of a prior relationship with Elena Lovato. We were able to exhibition (against) Coach Schaefer when he was at Mississippi State, so there's some familiarity. And always looking for a chance to play a strong opponent, we reached out and they agreed to allow us to come down there and play this year."
 
Gomez sees great value in the challenge of opening against a national power. "In a book I read not long ago, I remember the phrase that a leader's main responsibility is to define reality," he said. "I think it's good for a team to have challenges to start a year and see what basketball at a really high level looks like. We've had this opportunity before against high-level Division I and mid-major programs. We've had moderate success, but more importantly, it's an opportunity to compete, to win possessions, and to learn how to play the game—not the scoreboard—because it's going to be a huge task against one of the top teams in the country at every level."
 
Facing Division I opponents has paid dividends for LCU in the past. The Lady Chaps' lone setback in their perfect 35-0 national championship season in 2015-16 came in an exhibition at No. 1 Connecticut, a 95-39 loss on Nov. 3, 2015. That Huskies team went on to finish 35-0 and claim the Division I national title.
 
The Lady Chaps are 4-5 all-time against NCAA Division I opponents in exhibition and regular-season play. Here is a breakdown of each of the prior contests:
 
LCU'S HISTORY VS. NCAA DIV. I PROGRAMS:
Dec. 11, 2007 - LCU 75 - Houston Baptist 72
Carolyn Manning recorded 20 points and LCU also received 17 points from Sierra Lovorn and 15 points from Jordan Hampton (11-for-13 from the free-throw line) to lead the Lady Chaps to a regular season win at Rip Griffin Center. It was HBU's first season playing a NCAA Div. I schedule.
 
Nov. 9, 2009 - LCU 71 - Texas Tech 65
No. 19 Lubbock Christian University used 22 points from Brittany Hampton and a 40-29 rebound advantage to upset Texas Tech University at United Spirit Arena. Hampton scored 14 of her 22 points in the second half, and went 15-for-15 from the free-throw line, which would have been a school single-game record for free throws made without a miss if it had been a regular season game. LCU was 26-for-30 (86.7%) from the line in the game. They also received 15 points from Severyn Smith.
 
Nov. 2, 2013 - LCU 80 - Houston 73
Nicole Hampton produced a double-double (20 points and 15 rebounds) and Kelsey Hoppel produced 21 points leading to an 80-73 exhibition victory over the University of Houston at Hofheinz Pavilion. Emily Pool added 14 points for LCU, who hit 41 percent from the field, nailed 11 three-pointers and outrebounded Houston 53-49. The Coogs were held to 29 percent shooting.
 
Nov. 3, 2015 - UConn 95 - LCU 39
A blocked shot by Kellyn Schneider, followed by a Tess Bruffey bucket in the opening sequence of the game, led to a 2-0 LCU lead and a buzz from over 200 LCU fans in attendance, but it was short lived as Breanna Stewart went 10-of-12 from the field and her 25 points helped UConn to victory. The 56-point margin was UConn's smallest margin of victory in exhibition play since 2011 and the Huskies were also held under 100 points for only the second time in exhibition play since 2012. Both teams went on to go 35-0 in the regular season and each won national championships in Indianapolis.
 
Oct. 28, 2018 - LCU 62 - SMU 51
LCU forced SMU into 21 turnovers and a 35.7% shooting mark from the field in a victory over the Mustangs at Moody Coliseum. LCU the game for over 35 minutes in the contest, LCU was 42.9% (24/56) from the field, with 10 of their 24 made field goals launched behind the arc. Maddi Chitsey (15) and Robertson (13) combined for 28 points and were two of four Lady Chaps to finish in double figures. Allie Schulte and Ashton Duncan each had 11 points. Schulte also had five steals and five rebounds. LCU forced SMU into 21 turnovers, leading to a 29-14 scoring advantage in points off turnovers.
 
Oct. 30, 2018 - New Mexico 62 - LCU 55
New Mexico only outscored Lubbock Christian University in one of four quarters, but a 22-8 outburst in the second quarter was enough to defeat the Lady Chaparrals inside Dreamstyle Arena (The Pit). LCU outscored UNM 12-10 in the first quarter and 19-14 in the final quarter. The Lady Chaps offense faltered in the second quarter, going 3-of-17 (17.6%) from the field and 1-of-10 (10%) from long distance. LCU finished the game 4-of-23 from three-point range. UNM outrebounded LCU 43-41. Maddi Chitsey led LCU with 13 points and her sister Bobbi provided 10 points. Kailin Davis had seven points, six rebounds and a +10 plus/minus rating. They had trouble with UNM's Jaisa Nunn, who was 6-of-6 from the field with 17 points.
 
Oct. 28, 2019 - Texas 83 - LCU 73
Remove  the opening two minutes, or a 10-0 run Texas opened the game with during the span, and it was an even-steven contest, as LCU fell 83-73 inside Frank Erwin Center. LCU was able to gradually come back and bounced back from a 12-point halftime deficit, as Madelyn Turner was 4-of-4 from long range in the second half and produced 16 points in the half to help LCU pull to within four points of the Longhorns (65-61) in the fourth quarter. Texas responded with seven straight points from the free-throw line to claim the win despite LCU having a 42.4% - 40% shooting advantage from the field in the game. Maddi Chitsey led LCU with 22 points and Turner finished with 18 points. Joanne Allen-Taylor fueled Texas with 24 points.
 
Oct. 30, 2019 - Baylor 98 - LCU 63
A pair of defending NCAA championship squads hit the hardwood of the Ferrell Center Wednesday night, as Division I national champion Baylor defeated defending Division II national champion Lubbock Christian University 98-63 behind Lauren Cox, who had 24 points, eight rebounds and six assists for Baylor. LCU trailed 26-18 after the opening quarter and had trouble slowing down Baylor's 59.5% shooting from the field in the first half, which led to a 52-29 halftime lead. LCU had a much more competitive second half. Allie Schulte exploded for 10 points in the third quarter and LCU was 7-of-17 (42.9%) from the field (3-of-6 from three-point range) in the quarter. Baylor outscored LCU 20-19 in the quarter and took a 72-48 lead in the fourth quarter. The Lady Chaps played all 14 players and many of the depth players made their exhibition season debuts in the fourth quarter. Baylor outscored LCU 46-34 in the second half, as the Lady Chaps fell 98-63. Along with Lauren Cox's solid performance, the Lady Bears received a double-double from former Texas Tech Lady Raider Erin DeGrate (17 points and 10 rebounds). They also received 21 points from Te'a Cooper. Baylor was 55.6% from the field off 40-of-72 shooting. LCU, 35.6% (21/59) from the field, was led by Chitsey, who posted 16 points. She was one of four Lady Chaps to hit double figures. Turner and Schulte each posted 14 points and Emma Middleton had 12 points in 13 minutes (along with five rebounds) off 4-of-5 shooting.
 
Nov. 4, 2019 – Mississippi State 78 – LCU 57
NCAA Division II No. 1 Lubbock Christian University led Division I No. 8 Mississippi State for over 11 minutes in the first half and trailed just 43-41 at halftime, but second-half shooting struggles doomed the upset bid in a 78-57 exhibition loss. Maddi Chitsey powered LCU early, scoring all 16 of her points in the first quarter — including a buzzer-beating 35-footer — to give the Lady Chaps a 25-22 lead. LCU shot 61.1% in the opening period and led 37-33 before a cold stretch allowed MSU to surge ahead. The Lady Chaps shot just 23.1% in the second half and endured a 10:40 field-goal drought, while committing 15 turnovers after the break. MSU's size proved decisive, with 6-5 Jessika Carter posting 27 points and 13 rebounds. Allie Schulte added 17 points for LCU, which held the Bulldogs to 38.1% shooting.