LUBBOCK, Texas (October 26, 2026) — A proven scorer from Canyon. A versatile wing from Arizona. An explosive point guard from San Antonio. A 6-foot-3 post with a defensive pedigree from East Texas.
 
Lubbock Christian University women's basketball head coach Steve Gomez has added four distinct pieces to his roster for the 2026-27 season, welcoming a freshman class that brings perimeter firepower, athleticism and interior size to a Lady Chaparrals program coming off another NCAA postseason appearance.
 
With 10 players returning from last season's 23-8 squad, including three starters, the Lady Chaps are not asking their newcomers to carry the program immediately. Instead, Gomez sees a group capable of complementing an experienced nucleus while establishing a foundation for the future.
 
"I really like this crew of incoming freshmen because they cover a wide range of positions and each of them has some unique skills that will help us not only this year but in the years ahead," Gomez said. "We've got a point guard, a couple versatile wings that can play inside and out some, and then a post player who is going to give us a presence around the basket for years to come."
 
The four-player class consists of guards Kambrie Graser, Brooke Nowak and Alexis Martens, along with post Madison Garner. Each arrives with considerable high school accomplishments, but their differing skill sets could prove just as valuable as their individual accolades.
 
Graser, a 5-foot-11 guard from Canyon, Texas, continues a familiar pipeline between Canyon High School and LCU. A three-year varsity starter under head coach Tate Lombard, Graser developed into one of the Texas Panhandle's premier perimeter players, earning consecutive all-state honors and concluding her senior season as the District 4-4A MVP. Her final campaign included surpassing 1,000 career points, highlighted by a 32-point performance against Perryton on Dec. 22, 2025. She helped Canyon complete a perfect 14-0 district campaign and reach the regional final for the second consecutive season. A year earlier, she demonstrated her perimeter range by connecting on eight 3-pointers in a 30-point performance against Randall.
 
For Gomez, Graser's appeal extends well beyond her shooting touch.
"It's nice to have someone who can be a threat both on the perimeter, on the drive, and around the basket with her strength," Gomez said.
 
That versatility, combined with the maturity Gomez has observed since her arrival, has positioned Graser as a newcomer who could earn opportunities immediately. While the returning players are expected to account for most of LCU's production, Gomez specifically identified Graser as a freshman he expects to contribute early in the season.
 
Nowak, a 5-foot-11 guard from Phoenix, brings a different dimension to the backcourt after a decorated career at Notre Dame Preparatory High School in Scottsdale, Arizona. A four-time All-5A East Sky Region selection, Nowak earned the region's Offensive Player of the Year award as a junior after averaging 15 points, four rebounds, three assists and three steals per game. She surpassed 1,000 career points as a senior and helped the Saints reach the Arizona state playoffs in all four seasons, including a semifinal appearance in 2024.
 
Although her high school production established her offensive credentials, Gomez has been equally impressed by her defensive instincts and ability to create opportunities for teammates.
 
"Brooke's length and her instincts are very helpful," Gomez said. "She defends well both on the ball and off the ball, and she has really good vision combined with her ability to shoot the perimeter shot."
 
Martens, a 5-foot-7 guard from San Antonio, gives LCU another ballhandler with an athletic background that extends beyond basketball. A two-time first-team All-District 27-6A selection at Churchill High School, Martens developed into a versatile playmaker while competing against Class 6A competition. She also earned an invitation to the San Antonio Sports All-Star Basketball Game and distinguished herself in track and field, tying Churchill's school pole vault record during her prep career.
 
Her basketball background also carries a family connection to the college game. Her father, Jason Martens, spent 18 seasons as the head women's basketball coach at St. Mary's, becoming the winningest coach in that program's history.
 
"Alexis is really a deceptive player who has great explosiveness and good physicality," Gomez said. "Some of that is attributed to her basketball career through high school, but also as a pole vaulter, you have to have strength and explosiveness."
 
Gomez views Martens as a natural point guard capable of directing the offense and creating scoring opportunities for others, while Nowak supplies defensive range and perimeter shooting. Graser, meanwhile, provides a combination of outside scoring, strength and offensive versatility.
 
The lone post player in the class, Garner, gives the Lady Chaps a 6-foot-3 interior presence with the potential to influence both ends of the floor. A product of Chireno High School in East Texas, Garner earned TABC All-State recognition in 2025 after developing into one of her district's most accomplished frontcourt players. A three-time all-district selection, she previously received District 24-2A Newcomer of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year honors.
 
Gomez believes Garner's combination of size, rebounding and offensive touch could expand LCU's options around the basket.
 
"She gives us some length and a presence around the basket that we haven't always had," Gomez said. "Her defensive ability and rebounding will give us a boost, and she has really good touch not only around the basket but also from the perimeter."
 
Beyond the individual attributes, the freshmen share another characteristic Gomez prioritizes in recruiting: experience in successful high school programs where expectations and postseason pressure were part of the equation.
 
That background has helped ease their adjustment to college basketball, particularly as they enter a team featuring 10 returners.
 
"Maybe the most enlightening and enjoyable thing about these four is how quickly they have meshed together on and off the court, and how quickly they fit in to the team," Gomez said.
 
Their arrival comes as LCU prepares for another demanding Lone Star Conference campaign. The Lady Chaps finished 15-5 in conference play last season, advanced to the NCAA Division II South Central Regional and enter 2026-27 ranked fourth in the LSC preseason poll. The program has reached the NCAA postseason in 10 of its 11 seasons of eligibility.
 
While immediate playing time will be earned through competition, Gomez believes the newcomers can provide meaningful contributions without carrying the burden of producing at the level of the team's established veterans.
 
"We do have a lot of players back and we expect them to provide the bulk of our production," Gomez said. "But I can see a few of these freshmen ready to compete."
 
The freshmen will get their first opportunity to experience collegiate competition when LCU opens the season Friday, Oct. 30, against Winona State at the Hoops in Hawaii Tip-Off Classic in Honolulu. The Lady Chaps will subsequently return to Lubbock for a school-record 17-game home schedule, beginning Nov. 9 against Western Colorado.
 
For Gomez, however, the true measure of this recruiting class will extend beyond opening-weekend performances or first-year statistics.
 
"We expect by their junior and senior years for them to be high producers and tremendous examples to the younger players that come in behind them just as the older ones are for them now," Gomez said.
 
Four newcomers, each with a different path to Lubbock, are now beginning that progression together.