LUBBOCK, Texas (October 27, 2026) — Seven sophomores, three upperclassmen and a roster that might appear young on paper. For Lubbock Christian University women's basketball head coach Steve Gomez, those classifications tell only part of the story.
 
After guiding the Lady Chaparrals to 23 victories and another NCAA Tournament appearance last season, Gomez enters the 2026-27 campaign with 10 returning players, three returning starters and a sophomore class that has already experienced the demands of Lone Star Conference competition.
 
The returning group accounted for 1,408 of LCU's 2,068 points last season, representing 68.1% of the team's scoring. Even more significant is the experience returning to the starting lineup, with Kennedy Chappell, Meg Meekins and Raegan Lee combining for 92 starts during the 2025-26 campaign.
 
"We look forward to starting another year and while we do still seem to have a young team with only three upperclassmen, our current sophomores got a lot of experience last year as two of them started as freshmen and a few more got lots of valuable playing time," Gomez said. "So I'm not thinking we are as young as our roster appears."
 
That experience comes from a season in which LCU finished 23-8 overall and 15-5 in conference play, opened with 11 consecutive victories and earned its 10th NCAA postseason berth in 11 seasons of eligibility.
 
The Lady Chaps will have to replace a pair of departed starters in Martie McCoy and Tia Johnson, but the return of Chappell and Meekins gives Gomez one of the conference's more accomplished scoring combinations.
 
Chappell, a 5-foot-9 senior from Heath, Texas, returns as the centerpiece of the Lady Chaps after a junior campaign that established her among the nation's premier Division II players.
 
The reigning Women's Basketball Coaches Association honorable mention All-American and D2CCA All-South Central Region first-team selection led LCU with 473 points, averaging 15.3 points per game while shooting 51% from the field. She also paced the team with 200 rebounds, 105 assists and 57 steals, demonstrating a level of versatility that earned her first-team All-LSC and conference All-Defensive Team recognition.
 
Chappell reached double figures in 27 of 31 games, recorded 10 performances of at least 20 points and collected seven double-doubles. Entering her senior season as an LSC preseason Player to Watch, she carries expectations extending beyond individual production.
 
"I have a tremendous amount of trust in Kennedy," Gomez said, emphasizing her development, discipline and understanding of the game.
 
For Gomez, Chappell's growth has been about more than becoming a reliable scorer. Her maturity, preparation and commitment to excellence have established a standard he wants the younger players to follow.
 
Alongside Chappell is Meekins, a 5-foot-8 guard from Nocona, Texas, who exceeded expectations during a freshman season in which she became an immediate fixture in the starting lineup.
 
Meekins earned LSC Freshman of the Year and second-team All-LSC honors after scoring 390 points and averaging 12.6 points per game. She led LCU with 52 made 3-pointers, recorded 21 double-figure scoring performances and started all 31 contests.
 
The former Nocona High School standout also earned D2CCA Tip-Off Classic tournament MVP recognition and an LSC Offensive Player of the Week award, establishing herself as one of the league's emerging offensive threats.
 
"We really relied on Meg much more than we've had to do with most freshmen throughout the years," Gomez said.
 
Gomez praised the steadiness Meekins demonstrated while handling significant offensive responsibilities, but he also recognizes that opposing defenses will devote greater attention to her this season. Continued growth in decision-making, offensive recognition and creating opportunities for teammates will be essential to her sophomore progression.
 
Completing the trio of returning starters is Lee, a 5-foot-9 sophomore from Lubbock who provided one of the more important intangible contributions to last season's success.
A product of Lubbock Christian High School, Lee appeared in all 31 games and made 30 starts as a freshman, totaling 114 points, 91 rebounds and 22 steals. While her scoring numbers did not command the same attention as those of Chappell and Meekins, her defensive intensity, rebounding and understanding of team responsibilities earned Gomez's confidence.
 
"I think her mind and her understanding of what's going on allows her to get the most of her ability," Gomez said.
 
Gomez expects Lee to continue developing as an offensive threat while retaining the physicality and competitive approach that helped her transition quickly into collegiate basketball.
 
Beyond those three starters, one of LCU's most intriguing developments could come from the continued maturation of its sophomore class, which entered last season as Gomez's largest incoming class.
 
Kyndle Cunningham, a 6-foot forward from Hobbs, New Mexico, emerged as a valuable frontcourt option last season, appearing in 30 games and averaging 4.6 points and 2.9 rebounds. She scored 138 points, converted 16 3-pointers and provided versatility as an interior scorer and perimeter threat.
 
Her development will be particularly important alongside 6-foot-2 sophomore forward Kaelie Massenburg, who appeared in 13 games as a freshman and recorded five blocked shots in limited playing time.
 
Gomez believes both players have made considerable progress since the spring, particularly in their understanding of offensive responsibilities, rebounding, physicality and defensive positioning. The duo will be counted on to give LCU greater strength around the basket while contributing as scorers, passers and screeners.
 
Another player Gomez believes is poised for an expanded role is junior guard Maddie Moyers.
 
The 5-foot-10 sharpshooter from Firestone, Colorado, connected on 28 of 70 attempts from 3-point range last season, shooting 40% from beyond the arc. Her outside production more than doubled from the 12 3-pointers she made during her freshman campaign, and she appeared in 30 games while scoring 107 points.
 
Although perimeter shooting remains her most recognizable offensive weapon, Gomez has been particularly encouraged by the growth of Moyers' defense, passing and physicality.
 
"So we expect her to go from just being a good shooter to being a really solid all-around basketball player and vital contributor to our season," Gomez said.
 
The return of senior Kimber Mathews also provides an experienced perimeter option with a renewed opportunity to contribute.
 
Mathews, a 5-foot-9 guard from Gruver, Texas, battled a significant leg injury last season that forced her to miss eight games and limited her effectiveness upon returning. She still appeared in 22 contests, totaling 72 points while shooting 48.3% from the field and 39.1% from 3-point range.
 
Gomez acknowledged that the severity of the injury initially raised concerns about whether Mathews would be able to return at all. Her determination through rehabilitation and the progress she has made throughout the summer and preseason have restored optimism about her role.
 
For Gomez, Mathews' value extends to the example she sets through her toughness, kindness and enthusiasm, qualities that have remained evident throughout her comeback.
 
Sophomore Mattie Dollar is another player whose production could increase with improved health and continuity.
 
A 5-foot-10 guard from Newcastle, Texas, Dollar appeared in 24 games as a freshman, totaling 72 points, 46 rebounds and 10 steals. Her season included a 12-point performance against Cameron and an eight-rebound outing against Midwestern State, but injuries and illness repeatedly disrupted her progress.
 
Gomez remains confident in her versatility, basketball instincts and ability to defend multiple positions.
 
"She's going to be a key element of any success that we have this year, and I look forward to her having a smooth season where she's not being kept out of competition for various health reasons," Gomez said.
 
Additional depth comes from sophomore guards Ally Ihler and Kaitlyn McAdoo, two players seeking larger roles after gaining experience in limited opportunities last season.
 
Ihler, a 6-foot-1 guard from Salado, Texas, appeared in 23 games and brings positional versatility and length. McAdoo, a 5-foot-8 guard from Winnsboro, Texas, played in 13 contests after arriving with a prolific high school perimeter-shooting background.
 
Gomez has been encouraged by the pair's work ethic and commitment to improving, particularly Ihler's growing physicality and aggressiveness and McAdoo's understanding of the game and willingness to help teammates develop.
 
The emphasis on individual development and collective responsibility has taken on additional meaning for Gomez following an extraordinary summer on the international stage.
 
Serving as head coach of the United States U17 women's national team, Gomez guided the Americans to the FIBA U17 Women's Basketball World Cup gold medal in Brno, Czechia, culminating with an 82-73 comeback victory over Spain.
 
The experience reinforced principles he believes translate to any level of basketball, particularly the importance of players understanding their roles and making decisions that benefit the entire team.
 
"So just relying on just small decisions, playing hard, learning to do what's best for the team and what's needed at the moment can apply to any team at any level," Gomez said.
 
Those lessons will be tested throughout another challenging Lone Star Conference schedule. LCU was selected fourth in the league's preseason poll, receiving 743 points, just 12 behind third-place UT Tyler, as the Lady Chaps pursue another postseason berth.
 
The schedule presents opportunities, including a school-record 17 home games inside Rip Griffin Center, where LCU finished 11-1 last season. But Gomez knows the difference between merely possessing experience and using it to overcome the challenges of a demanding conference schedule.
 
"It is good to have a number of players back who got to experience the heat of a season and how difficult the Lone Star Conference can be," Gomez said.
 
He believes the next step for the returning group will require maintaining consistent mental and physical toughness, learning from mistakes and eliminating the lapses that can turn competitive games into losses.
 
The Lady Chaps begin the season Oct. 30 against Winona State at the Hoops in Hawaii Tip-Off Classic in Honolulu, launching a 31-game regular-season schedule before postseason play begins in March.
 
For a team with only three upperclassmen, the challenge will be proving that last year's experience has accelerated the growth of a roster still relatively young by classification.
The expectations remain familiar. So does the standard.
 
"We need to learn how to learn from mistakes in the preseason and in the early season and not have those same mistakes be coming up again as the year goes on," Gomez said.