Story Links

LUBBOCK, Texas (December 3, 2025) – No. 4 Lubbock Christian University charges into Lone Star Conference action Wednesday, opening league play at home against UT Permian Basin. The Lady Chaps, last season’s LSC regular-season co-champions, look to set the tone early as they tip off with the Falcons at 5:30 p.m. inside Rip Griffin Center.
Fans can get the night started with a Johnsonville Tailgate at 5 p.m., serving up free sausage wraps just outside the arena. It’s the perfect way to fuel up for the start of conference play.
 




LONE STAR CONFERENCE WOMEN’S BASKETBALL


OPPONENT
LOCATION
DAY
TIME (CT)
WATCH
STATS




UTPB
Rip Griffin Center
Wed. Dec. 3
5:30 p.m.
Video
Stats

TICKETS 
   
PRE-TURKEY BUZZER BEATING
Lubbock Christian pushed its record to 7–0 with a dramatic finish, capped by freshman Meg Meekins’ buzzer-beating three that lifted the Lady Chaps to a 62–61 win at Southwestern Oklahoma State before the Thanksgiving break. Meekins—named LSC Offensive Player of the Week earlier that day—continued her breakout stretch with 18 points and five threes, her third straight game with at least five triples, a first in LCU’s NCAA era. She delivered the winner off a kick-out from Kennedy Chappell with under a second left, answering a late go-ahead basket from SWOSU star Sincere Jackson.
 
LCU hit a season-high 12 three-pointers to overcome a 36–10 deficit in paint scoring, a 15–0 hole in points off turnovers, and nine lead changes. Senior forward Tia Johnson provided a career-best 15 points, while Chappell added 11 points and six assists—her sixth double-figure outing in seven games. Martie McCoy chipped in seven rebounds and four steals, and Maddie Moyers added two timely first-half threes.
 
SWOSU (2–2) leaned heavily on Jackson, who finished with 23 points and eight boards, including 11 in the third quarter. The Bulldogs led for more than 19 minutes and briefly went up four in the final minutes before LCU’s perimeter shooting swung the momentum back. The win extended LCU’s road streak to 12 games and its series streak against SWOSU to seven straight, improving the Lady Chaps to 10–3 all-time against the Bulldogs.
 
CHAP-TIVATING STATS: 5 LADY CHAP FACTS
1 > Division II’s No. 1 Three-Point Threat
LCU enters the week as the top three-point shooting team in the Lone Star Conference and No. 22 nationally, averaging 8.9 threes per game. The Lady Chaps are also No. 2 in the LSC / No. 20 nationally in 3-point percentage (37.1%) after hitting a season-high 12 threes at SWOSU. Freshman Meg Meekins leads Division II’s freshmen and ranks No. 4 nationally with 25 made threes, while shooting 51.0% from deep—No. 1 in the LSC.
 
2 > Chappell: One of the Nation’s Premier Floor Generals
Kennedy Chappell remains the LSC leader in assists (35) and assists per game (5.0), ranking No. 11 nationally in total assists and No. 26 in APG. She pairs that with 16.3 ppg, ranking 5th in the LSC, and shoots 55.7% from the floor—3rd in the LSC / 39th nationally. Her 88.6% free-throw mark is No. 5 in the conference, and she is currently No. 3 in the LSC in minutes played (34.2 mpg), pacing LCU on both ends.
 
3 > Meekins Emerging as an Elite National Scoring Threat
Freshman Meg Meekins has become one of Division II’s most dangerous shooters, ranking:
— No. 4 in the LSC / No. 75 nationally at 17.0 ppg
— No. 1 in LSC / No. 16 nationally in 3-pt percentage (.510)
— No. 1 in LSC / No. 4 nationally in threes made (25)
— No. 1 in LSC / No. 21 nationally in 3-pt attempts (49)
Her fifth-three burst at SWOSU marked her third straight game with 5+ made threes—the first such streak in LCU’s NCAA era.
 
4 > One of the Nation’s Most Efficient Passing & Ball-Security Teams
LCU continues to field one of Division II’s best decision-making offenses, ranking:
— No. 1 in the LSC / No. 21 nationally in assist/turnover ratio (1.13)
— No. 1 in LSC / No. 46 nationally in assists per game (15.7)
— No. 2 in LSC / No. 26 nationally in turnovers per game (13.9)
Martie McCoy posts the best assist/turnover ratio in the LSC (2.64)—No. 23 nationally—while Chappell ranks 4th in LSC (1.46). LCU has finished even or positive in turnover margin in all but one game this season (at SWOSU).
 
5 > Balanced Scoring & Depth Driving an Undefeated Start
Seven Lady Chaps average 4.0+ points per game, led by Meekins (17.0) and Chappell (16.3). LCU ranks 3rd in the LSC / No. 38 nationally in field-goal percentage (44.4%), with four players above 45% (of players with at least 10 minutes played per game):
— Kennedy Chappell (.557)
— Kimber Mathews (.541)
— Taylor Allen (.462)
— Maddie Moyers (.458)
— Deja Johnson (.455)
LCU also stands 3rd in the LSC / No. 49 nationally in scoring defense (56.9 ppg allowed), posting a double-digit scoring margin (+11.6, 5th in the LSC). Eleven players have logged double-figure minutes this season, fueling LCU’s 7–0 start.
 
SWEET HOME (ON) CHICAGO
LCU, who went 13-0 at home last season, is off to a 2-0 start on the home floor this season. Meg Meekins leads LCU at home with a pace of 24.5 points a game and has had a trio of three-pointers in the first quarter of each home game. Kennedy Chappell is also averaging 17.5 points and 6.0 rebounds per game at home. LCU has won 20 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 326-62 record (84.0%) 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

This season marks LCU’s seventh season in the Lone Star Conference. Wednesday’s game marks LCU’s conference opener and the game is their 32nd conference opener (six Heartland Conference and 19 Sooner Athletic Conference openers prior to joining the LSC). The Lady Chaps, 5-1 in LSC openers, went 11-8 all-time in SAC openers and 5-1 in HC openers. They are 19-3 all-time in conference openers under head coach Steve Gomez. They have won 18 of their prior 20 consecutive conference openers, defeating St. Edward’s 61-56 at home in last season’s LSC opener (Nov. 21, 2024). This season marks 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 UTPB    

1 > UT Permian Basin comes into Wednesday’s matchup at 3–3, having already made one appearance in Lubbock this season during the Fairfield Inn Classic, where they split games—falling to Southern Arkansas before edging Southern Nazarene. Under head coach Rae Boothe, the Falcons lean on a veteran, JUCO-built roster headlined by graduate guard Kenadi Rising (Emporia State transfer and former Abilene Christian product), junior scoring guard Jasmin Holt, and 6-2 senior center Arial Ford. UTPB has been strong defensively—holding five of six opponents under 62 points—and owns a pair of neutral-site wins over New Mexico Highlands and Southern Nazarene. Consistency on the offensive end remains a work in progress, as the Falcons have averaged just 54.0 points over their three losses. They have yet to play a true road game, making this their road debut and second visit to the Rip Griffin Center in less than two weeks. With a roster featuring nine newcomers and notable international additions such as Ana Lazarevic (Serbia) and Waikimihia Douglas-Karauna (New Zealand), UTPB continues to blend size, length, and defensive pressure as they search for their first win over a ranked opponent this season.

 

2 > Graduate guard Kenadi Rising has emerged as UTPB’s go-to offensive option, averaging 9.5 points and 5.2 rebounds while shooting 43% from the floor. She ranks sixth in the LSC in free-throw percentage (87.0%) and is top-20 nationally in attempts, providing steady production from the stripe.

 

3 > Ball security has been a major hurdle for UTPB. The Falcons rank 11th in the LSC in turnovers per game (20.8) and last in assist-to-turnover ratio (0.38). Those miscues have translated to a –2.2 turnover margin, putting added pressure on their defense to compensate for empty possessions.

 

4 > Despite offensive struggles (54.0 PPG, 13th in the LSC), the Falcons have been one of the league’s stingiest defensive units. They enter conference play ranked No. 2 in the LSC in field-goal percentage defense (.350) and No. 1 in three-point percentage defense (.252), helping limit opponents to just 57.7 points per game, fifth-best in the league.

 

5 > Teams are combining for an average of 39.5 turnovers per games involving UTPB this season. In comparison, games involving LCU this season have an average of a combined 30.4 turnovers per game. UTPB averages 20.8 turnovers per game and an average of 18.7 turnovers forced. LCU averages 13.9 turnovers per game.

 

THE SERIES AGAINST UTPB

LCU is 31-1 all-time against the Falcons. The Lady Chaps won the first 29 games of the all-time series, but fell 57-52 to close the 2023-24 season’s home-and-home series (Feb. 10, 2024 in Odessa). LCU bounced back to sweep last season’s series (2-0), to improve to 20-1 all-time against the Falcons as conference opponents (1-0 against the Falcons in conference postseason play). Last season’s meeting in Lubbock was on Feb. 15, which resulted in an 82-56 LCU win to improve LCU to 18-0 all-time in the series in Lubbock. The two programs have been conference foes in both the Heartland and Lone Star Conference.

 

PRIOR MEETING VS. UTPB

LUBBOCK, Texas (February 15, 2024) – LCU 82 – UTPB 56

No. 11 Lubbock Christian closed its home schedule in emphatic fashion, finishing a perfect 13–0 at the Rip Griffin Center with an 82–56 win over Texas Permian Basin. The Lady Chaps delivered one of their most efficient offensive performances of the season, shooting 58.5% from the field and placing four players in double figures. Grace Foster dominated with 26 points—her 16th 20-point game of the year—while Audrey Robertson provided a strong Senior Day performance with 11 points and 10 rebounds, marking her second career double-double.

 

LCU used a late first-quarter surge to take control, then survived a hot-shooting second frame from UTPB to carry a 37–32 lead into halftime. The game broke open in the third quarter, where the Lady Chaps overwhelmed the Falcons with a 17–1 run and held UTPB to just one field goal over a six-minute stretch. LCU shot 61.5% in the period and pushed the margin to 14 entering the fourth. From there, the Lady Chaps continued to impose their will in the paint, outscoring UTPB 40–20 inside and extending the lead beyond 20 in the closing minutes.

 

Maci Maddox added 17 points and five assists, moving into the top five on LCU’s all-time assists list, while Kennedy Chappell chipped in 13 points. LCU controlled the glass with a 38–21 rebounding advantage—including 31 defensive rebounds—and limited UTPB to 25.9% shooting in the second half. The Falcons were led by Taysha Rushton’s 23 points, but managed only five offensive boards and nine second-chance points.