FRISCO, Texas (March 6, 2026) – The Lubbock Christian University Lady Chaparrals enter the Lone Star Conference Championships as the No. 4-seed. They open tournament play Friday at 8:30 p.m., facing No. 5-seed Eastern New Mexico in the first-ever postseason meeting between the two squads.
 
This marks LCU's seventh season in the LSC and the fourth year the tournament features an eight-team field (previously a 12-team format through 2021-22). All eight teams in the women's basketball bracket will begin their championship run Friday inside Comerica Center with quarterfinal action. For the third time in a four-year span, LCU occupies the "late game."
 

LONE STAR CONFERENCE WOMEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS
OPPONENT	LOCATION	DAY	TIME (CT)	WATCH	STATS
Eastern New Mexico	Frisco, Texas	Fri. Mar. 5	8:30 p.m.	Video	Stats

   
SCENARIOS
IF LCU WINS: If the Lady Chaps defeats ENMU, they will improve to 24-6 on the season and will advance to the tournament Semifinals game to face either No.1-seed Texas Woman's or No.8-seed UT Permian Basin Saturday at 6 p.m. in Frisco.
 
IF LCU LOSES: If the Lady Chaps fall to the Greyhounds, their record will drop to 23-7, they will be eliminated from the tournament and will await an at-large bid for the NCAA Division II South Central Region Tournament (eight-team tournament). The NCAA Division II Women's Basketball Selection Show will air Sunday, Mar. 8 at 9:30
p.m. on NCAA.com.
 
RECOGNITION
Lubbock Christian placed three players among the Lone Star Conference's top women's basketball honorees at the LSC Awards Social in Frisco. Junior guard Kennedy Chappell earned All-LSC First Team, All-Defensive Team and All-Academic Team honors after leading the Lady Chaps in scoring, rebounding, assists and steals. Freshman guard Meg Meekins was named LSC Freshman of the Year (Lady Chap first-ever recipient) and All-LSC Second Team after averaging 12.6 points and leading the team with 50 three-pointers. Senior Martie McCoy received All-Academic Team recognition.
 
HOW THE REGULAR SEASON ENDED
Lubbock Christian closed the regular season with a 73-44 Senior Day win over Sul Ross State, never trailing and extending its series win streak to 30 games. Kennedy Chappell led the Lady Chaps with 16 points—her 25th double-figure game of the season—and added four assists, two steals and two blocks in a statistically rare accomplished all-around performance. Meg Meekins scored 13 points and Tia Johnson added 10, including eight in the fourth quarter. LCU forced a season-high 22 turnovers, dominated the paint 38-12 and held a 67-47 edge in shot attempts. The Lady Chaps finished the season 11-1 at home and improved to 42-12 all-time against the Lobos.
 
RANKINGS
LCU remained at No.4 in the latest NCAA Division II South Central Region rankings, released March 4, with Texas Woman's remaining at the top spot. The rankings, which list teams in order, have LCU in fourth, with West Texas A&M (second) and Colorado Mesa (third) ahead of them. Adams State, Colo. Colorado Springs (UCCS), UT Tyler, Eastern New Mexico, Western Colorado and Angelo State complete the top 10. The final regional rankings, set for release Sunday after conference tournaments, will determine the eight teams advancing to the regional tournament, with the top seed earning hosting rights.
 
CHAP-TIVATING STATS: 5 LADY CHAP FACTS
1 > 23-Win Regular Season
Lubbock Christian enters postseason play with a 23-6 overall record and a 15-5 Lone Star Conference mark, finishing tied for fourth in the league standings. The Lady Chaps won their final three games of the regular season and posted an 11-1 record inside Rip Griffin Center, while also going 9-5 on the road and 3-0 at neutral sites. LCU owns a +10.0 scoring margin. Their regular-season finale featured a 73-44 win over Sul Ross State, a game in which LCU never trailed and forced a season-high 22 turnovers, highlighting the defensive pressure that has helped drive the program's success throughout the campaign.

2 > Elite On Beyond The Arc
Perimeter shooting has been a defining strength for the Lady Chaps. Lubbock Christian leads the Lone Star Conference in three-point percentage (.350) and ranks No. 13 nationally in the category. The team averages 7.3 made three-pointers per game, which ranks third in the conference and No. 52 nationally. Freshman Meg Meekins leads LCU with 50 three-pointers, ranking fourth in the LSC, while several other players contribute from deep, including Maddie Moyers (.397) and Raegan Lee (.391). The ability to stretch the floor has played a key role in LCU's 67.7 points per game scoring average and its balanced offensive attack.

3 > Taking Care of the Basketball
Ball security has been one of LCU's most consistent strengths. The Lady Chaps commit just 13.5 turnovers per game, the fewest in the Lone Star Conference and No. 26 nationally. That efficiency translates to a 1.01 assist-to-turnover ratio, which ranks No. 39 nationally and second in the LSC. Senior Martie McCoy has been central to that effort, posting a 2.42 assist-to-turnover ratio, which ranks No. 8 nationally and leads the LSC. As a team, LCU averages 13.6 assists per game, with Kennedy Chappell pacing the team with 101 assists, the most in the conference.

4 > Defense That Limits Opponents
The Lady Chaps have paired efficient offense with a steady defensive presence. LCU allows just 57.7 points per game, ranking No. 41 nationally and fourth in the Lone Star Conference. Opponents shoot 36.8 percent from the field, placing LCU No. 54 nationally, while the Lady Chaps also hold teams to 29.6 percent shooting from three-point range. That defensive effort has contributed to LCU's +10.0 scoring margin and helped the team hold opponents below 60 points in 17 games this season, including the 44-point defensive performance against Sul Ross State to close the regular season.
 
5 > Chappell Leads Balanced Attack
Junior guard Kennedy Chappell leads Lubbock Christian in scoring at 15.3 points per game, while shooting 50.7 percent from the field, ranking second in the Lone Star Conference. Chappell also leads the LSC in total assists (101) and ranks among the conference leaders with 6.3 rebounds per game and 53 steals. Freshman Meg Meekins adds 12.6 points per game and leads the team in three-pointers (50), while Tia Johnson (7.4 ppg) and Martie McCoy (7.3 ppg) round out a balanced scoring group. Four different Lady Chaps average at least seven points per game, illustrating the depth behind LCU's offense.
 
FREEBIRD
LCU women's basketball head coach Steve Gomez has been named head coach of the 2026 USA Basketball Women's U17 National Team, USA Basketball announced Tuesday.
Gomez will lead the United States at the 2026 FIBA U17 Women's World Cup (July 11-19) in Brno, Czechia, after guiding the USA U16 team to gold at the 2025 FIBA Women's AmeriCup. He previously served as an assistant coach for USA Basketball in 2017 and 2018.
 
Now in his 23rd season at LCU, Gomez owns a 575-162 record and has led the Lady Chaps to three NCAA Division II national championships (2016, 2019, 2021). The U.S. has won six of seven FIBA U17 World Cups since the event began in 2010.
 
The team will hold trials and training camp prior to international competition this summer.

CONFERENCE CONVERSATION
Lubbock Christian posted a 15–5 record in Lone Star Conference play, going 9–1 at home and 6–4 on the road, while outscoring league opponents 66.9–56.6 for a +10.3 scoring margin. The Lady Chaps shot 43.9% from the field and 32.7% from three-point range, while holding opponents to 35.4% shooting. LCU averaged 34.3 rebounds and 12.8 assists per game and maintained a +1.2 turnover margin. Kennedy Chappell led the team with 14.8 points and 6.5 rebounds per game, adding 55 assists and 40 steals. Meg Meekins contributed 11.4 points per game with 23 three-pointers, while Tia Johnson averaged 8.4 points and shot 42.1% from three-point range. Martie McCoy added 7.0 points and 55 assists, helping guide the offense as LCU produced 256 assists in conference action.

EYE-OPENING
The 2025-26 season marks LCU's 13th since leaving the NAIA and LCU is 342-68 record (83.4%) in that span. In NCAA postseason play, the Lady Chaps are 27-5 all-time (78.1%). They are 24-1 over a two-season span at home and are 174-10 (94.6%) since becoming full-time NCAA members (2015-16 season being the first season) at home.
 
TOURNEY TIME
Lubbock Christian is appearing in their seventh LSC conference tournament (LSC Championship). The Lady Chaps hold a 11-4 all-time record in LSC Championship tournament games (6-4 in Frisco). LCU won the tournament in 2020 and 2021(both over Texas A&M-Commerce, now East Texas A&M). LCU's all-time leading scorer in LSC Championship play is Grace Foster, who had 151 career points in nine career games (average of 16.8 points per game, which also leads LCU's career LSC Championship marks). Kennedy Chappell and Martie McCoy co-lead the active roster historically in the LSC Championships 19 points (Chappell 4.8 points per game average in four games / McCoy 3.8 points per game in five games). The Lady Chaps average 69.2 points historically in championships play, with a field goal shooting mark of 43.9%. They are 36.4% from the perimeter and 79.6% from the line historically. LCU averages an allowance of 61.4 points per game historically and their defense has a pace of holding opponents to 38.3% shooting from the field.
 
PUT IT IN NEUTRAL
Lubbock Christian has posted a 3–0 record in neutral-site games, all coming in non-conference play, while outscoring opponents 70.3–61.7 for a +8.7 scoring margin. The Lady Chaps are shooting 42.3% from the field and 34.2% from three-point range, while converting 78.0% at the free-throw line in neutral site play. LCU are averaging 16.0 assists per game and are forcing 18.7 turnovers per contest, creating a +6.3 turnover margin.
Kennedy Chappell leads the team with 18.0 points per game, adding 19 assists and five steals, while shooting 55.9% from the field. Meg Meekins followed with 14.3 points per game and knocked down eight three-pointers. Kimber Mathews provides a scoring boost off the bench with 10.7 points per game, shooting 59.1% from the field. Martie McCoy directs the offense with 14 assists, helping LCU total 48 assists on 69 field goals in neutral-floor action.
 
FIVE FACTS ABOUT ENMU 
1 > Eastern New Mexico Greyhounds enters the Lone Star Conference Championship riding a seven-game winning streak, closing the regular season with victories over Cameron, UT Dallas, Texas A&M International, Texas A&M-Kingsville, UT Permian Basin and Angelo State. The stretch also included a statement 61-57 overtime road victory over No. 8 West Texas A&M, one of the league's top teams. The Greyhounds finished the regular season 19-9 overall and 15-5 in conference play, tying Lubbock Christian Lady Chaps for fourth in the standings.
 
2 > Eastern New Mexico averages 70.3 points per game, with three players scoring in double figures and five averaging at least 8.0 points per contest. Chloe Dallas leads the team at 14.3 points and 7.5 rebounds per game, shooting 56 percent from the field while recording six double-doubles. Aaliyah Smith (10.1 ppg) provides scoring and playmaking with a team-best 73 assists, while Julieta Ceja (10.0 ppg, 6.2 rpg) adds perimeter shooting and rebounding from the forward spot.
 
3 > The Greyhounds have been effective defensively, holding opponents to 60.0 points per game and limiting teams to 37.4 percent shooting. Eastern also creates extra possessions with pressure defense, forcing more than 20 turnovers per game while averaging 10.8 steals per contest, ranking among the top defensive teams in the Lone Star Conference.
 
4 > Depth is a major strength for ENMU, which leads the conference and ranks sixth nationally in bench scoring at 32.9 points per game. The Greyhounds regularly rotate nine or more players, with contributors such as Mekhila Brown (7.2 ppg) and Nataya Lockett (8.3 ppg) providing scoring, defense and energy off the bench.
 
5 > Eastern New Mexico Greyhounds was well represented in the postseason honors from the Lone Star Conference. Senior forward Chloe Dallas earned Newcomer of the Year honors after a standout season in the paint and was also selected to the All-LSC First Team. Junior forward Julieta Ceja received Second Team All-LSC recognition, highlighting her impact as a versatile scorer and rebounder, while guard Aaliyah Smith was named to the All-LSC Third Team following a strong all-around season directing the Greyhounds' offense.
 
THE SERIES AGAINST ENMU
In their lone regular season meeting this season (Jan. 17 at LCU's Rip Griffin Center), used a dominant third quarter to defeat ENMU 77-63 in Lone Star Conference play. After trailing early, LCU outscored ENMU 24-12 in the third to take control. Meg Meekins scored a game-high 24 points, while Kennedy Chappell added 21 points and 14 rebounds. The Lady Chaps shot 50% from the field and went 24-of-31 at the free-throw line to secure their 10th straight win over ENMU.
 
The victory provided LCU a 25-24 all-time series, as LCU has won 21 of the last 24 meetings and leads the series for the first time ever. ENMU's win on Jan. 16, 2020 (69-68 in overtime in Portales, N.M.) ended a six-game win streak in the series for LCU, but LCU has responded with 10 consecutive wins in the series. The Lady Chaps are 15-3 all-time against ENMU under head coach Steve Gomez. Friday's meeting marks the 50^th all-time meeting between the two programs and the first ever on a neutral site floor and the first ever in a postseason.
 
PRIOR MEETING VS. ENMU
LUBBOCK, Texas (Jan. 17, 2026) – LCU 77 – ENMU 63  
Lubbock Christian Lady Chaparrals used a dominant second-half surge to claim a 77–63 Lone Star Conference victory over the Eastern New Mexico Greyhounds at Rip Griffin Center.
 
After trailing for more than 14 minutes of the first half, LCU closed the second quarter on a run to take a 37–34 halftime lead. The Lady Chaps then took control in the third quarter, outscoring ENMU 24–12 to build a double-digit advantage they never relinquished.
 
Freshman Meg Meekins led all scorers with 24 points on 8-of-17 shooting, while Kennedy Chappell delivered a standout performance with 21 points and a career-high 14 rebounds for her second double-double of the season. Raegan Lee added 10 points on perfect shooting from the field (2-for-2) and free-throw line (4-for-4), and Martie McCoy contributed nine points and four assists without a turnover.
 
LCU shot 50 percent from the field and set a season high at the free-throw line, converting 24-of-31 attempts. ENMU also was plagued by a 38.9 percent shooting performance at the stripe. The victory extended LCU's winning streak over Eastern New Mexico to 10 games.
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