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LUBBOCK, Texas\u00a0(February 26, 2026) \u2013 Lubbock Christian University closes out the regular season with a pair of home games this week, hosting Western New Mexico Thursday (5:30 p.m.) and Sul Ross State Saturday (Senior Day, 1 p.m.) for a pair of Lone Star Conference contests inside Rip Griffin Center.
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TICKETS<\/a>\u00a0 CHAP-TIVATING STATS: 5 LADY CHAP FACTS 2 > Nationally Efficient 4 > Chappell Does It All NCAA DIVISION II’S LONGEST HOME WIN STREAKS CONFERENCE CONVERSATION EYE-OPENING
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\n\t\t\tLONE STAR CONFERENCE WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
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\n\t\t\tOPPONENT
\n\t\t\tLOCATION
\n\t\t\tDAY
\n\t\t\tTIME (CT)
\n\t\t\tWATCH
\n\t\t\tSTATS
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\n\t\t\tWestern N.M.
\n\t\t\tRip Griffin Center
\n\t\t\tThur. Feb. 26
\n\t\t\t5:30 p.m.
\n\t\t\tVideo<\/a>
\n\t\t\tStats<\/a>
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\nSATURDAY’S BOUNCE-BACK
\nLCU closed its regular-season road slate with a 60-56 Lone Star Conference win over UT Permian Basin on the Falcons’ Senior Day inside Falcon Dome.
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\nThe Lady Chaps (21-6, 13-5 LSC) used a 12-2 first-quarter run to erase an early deficit and seized control in the second quarter, outscoring UTPB 17-6 while holding the Falcons to 1-of-8 shooting for a 31-18 halftime lead. UT Permian Basin (15-11, 10-8) answered with a 21-point third quarter to cut the margin to 42-39 entering the fourth.
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\nAfter the game’s final tie at 52-52, Tia Johnson<\/a> buried a go-ahead 3-pointer with 4:56 remaining to give LCU the lead for good. Kennedy Chappell<\/a> sealed the victory at the free-throw line in the closing seconds.
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\nJohnson led LCU with 11 points, while Taylor Allen<\/a> added 10 for the second straight game. Chappell recorded 10 points, 10 rebounds and four steals for her sixth double-double of the season. LCU shot 40.4% from the field, went 17-of-22 at the line and improved to 33-1 all-time against UTPB.<\/p>\n
\n1 > Still Hunting
\nLubbock Christian sits tied for fourth in the Lone Star Conference at 13-5 (21-6 overall) alongside Eastern New Mexico and Angelo State. The Lady Chaps trail second-place West Texas A&M (16-2) by three games with two regular-season contest remaining. LCU is 9-1 at home, 9-5 in true road games and 3-0 at neutral sites.<\/p>\n
\nLCU ranks 25th nationally (3rd LSC) in field-goal percentage (.441), 57th nationally (6th LSC) in field-goal percentage defense (.369) and 45th nationally (4th LSC) in scoring defense (58.4 ppg). The Lady Chaps also rank 27th nationally and lead the LSC in fewest turnovers per game (13.7).
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\n3 > From Deep, They Lead
\nLCU leads the Lone Star Conference and ranks 15th nationally in three-point percentage (35.1%). The Lady Chaps average 7.3 made threes per game (53rd nationally, 2nd LSC). Meg Meekins<\/a> ranks fourth in the LSC with 49 made triples and is shooting 36.3% from deep.<\/p>\n
\nKennedy Chappell<\/a> leads the LSC in total points (419), free throws made (131) and free-throw attempts (172). She ranks second in the conference in field-goal percentage (.509) and averages 15.5 points and 6.6 rebounds per game. She also leads the LSC in total assists (94) and recently recorded her sixth double-double of the season.
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\n5 > Ball Security = Winning Basketball
\nLCU leads the Lone Star Conference and ranks 27th nationally in fewest turnovers per game (13.7) and sits second in the LSC in assist-to-turnover ratio (0.99), ranking 48th nationally. Martie McCoy<\/a> leads the conference and ranks 10th nationally in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.39), while Chappell’s 94 assists pace the league.
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\nFREEBIRD
\nLCU women’s basketball head coach Steve Gomez<\/a> has been named head coach of the 2026 USA Basketball Women’s U17 National Team, USA Basketball announced Tuesday.
\nGomez 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.
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\nNow in his 23rd season at LCU, Gomez owns a 574-162 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.
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\nThe team will hold trials and training camp prior to international competition this summer.
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\nSWEET HOME (ON) CHICAGO
\nLubbock Christian continues to make Rip Griffin Center one of the Lone Star Conference’s toughest venues, posting a 9\u20131 home record during the 2025\u201326 season, including a 7\u20131 mark in LSC play. The Lady Chaps are riding a five-game home winning streak and own a +14.7 scoring margin on their home floor, averaging 72.2 points per game while holding opponents to just 57.5.
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\nLCU has won eight of its nine home victories by double figures, with the lone setback coming against West Texas A&M on Jan. 15.
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\nKennedy Chappell<\/a> and Meg Meekins<\/a> continue to power the success inside Rip Griffin Center. Chappell is averaging 16.6 points and 6.7 rebounds at home while shooting 54.7% from the field and 80.8% at the free-throw line. Meekins adds 12.8 points per game and is shooting 36.2% from three-point range.
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\nMartie McCoy<\/a> is averaging 8.0 points and 3.1 assists at home, while Tia Johnson<\/a> is shooting 93.8% from the free-throw line inside the Rip.
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\nAs a team, LCU is shooting 45.8% from the field and 37.9% from three-point range at home while converting 76.8% at the line. The Lady Chaps also own a +1.9 turnover margin, committing just 13.7 per game while forcing 15.6.<\/p>\n
\n113 – Lubbock Christian Jan. 1, 2015 – Feb. 2, 2023
\n87 – Neb. Kearney Jan. 31, 1995-Nov. 24, 2001
\n85 – West Tex. A&M Jan. 9, 1987-Dec. 6, 1991<\/p>\n
\nLubbock Christian enters the final stretch of Lone Star Conference play at 13-5, owning a +8.8 scoring margin through 18 league contests. The Lady Chaps are averaging 66.2 points per game while holding conference opponents to 57.4, continuing to rely on defensive consistency and balanced offensive production.
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\nLCU is shooting 43.9% from the field in conference play and 32.6% from three-point range, averaging 6.3 made threes per game (113 total). The Lady Chaps are converting 72.8% at the free-throw line and averaging 12.6 assists per contest.
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\nDefensively, LCU has limited LSC opponents to 35.4% shooting overall and just 28.4% from beyond the arc. Rebounding has been even (33.9\u201333.9), while the Lady Chaps average 13.5 turnovers per game and force 13.9, maintaining a positive turnover margin in league action.
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\nIndividually, Kennedy Chappell<\/a> leads LCU in conference play at 14.9 points and 6.9 rebounds per game while shooting 49.1% from the field and pacing the team with 48 assists. Meg Meekins<\/a> adds 11.9 points with 22 made threes. Tia Johnson<\/a> is averaging 8.1 points while shooting 42.9% from three and 87.0% at the line. Martie McCoy<\/a> contributes 7.2 points and 49 assists, while Raegan Lee<\/a> (4.3 ppg, 51.8% FG, 37.9% 3FG) and Kyndle Cunningham<\/a> (4.8 ppg, 47.1% FG) provide efficient depth.<\/p>\n
\nThe 2025-26 season marks LCU’s 13th since leaving the NAIA and LCU is 340-68 record (83.3%) in that span. In NCAA postseason play, the Lady Chaps are 27-5 all-time (78.1%). At home, LCU is 163-9 (94.8%) since the start of the 2015-16 season (NCAA era).
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\nSENIOR SEND-OFF
\nThis weekend marks more than the final regular-season home games for LCU \u2014 it also represents the final appearance inside Rip Griffin Center for the program’s senior class. The four seniors will be recognized during halftime of Saturday’s men’s game.
\nDeja Johnson<\/a> (61 career games) and Tia Johnson<\/a> (87 games) will be honored alongside Martie McCoy<\/a> (103 games) and Taylor Thomas<\/a> (74 games), who have each spent their entire collegiate careers at Lubbock Christian. The quartet closes out its home tenure having helped anchor multiple postseason runs and sustained success within the Lone Star Conference.
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\nIN THE REGION
\nThe South Central Region Ranking Advisory Committee (RAC) has released its second regional rankings of the season \u2014 and the first edition listed in true 1\u201310 order. Unlike the initial alphabetical release, this ranking reflects the committee’s evaluated positioning of teams within the region.
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\nThe final regional rankings, scheduled to be announced a week from Sunday following the conclusion of conference tournaments, will determine the eight teams advancing to the NCAA Division II South Central Regional. The field will include two automatic qualifiers and six at-large selections, with the No. 1 overall seed earning first right of refusal to host.
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\nSouth Central Region Rankings (Second Release):
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\n\tTexas Woman’s
\n\tWest Texas A&M
\n\tColorado Mesa
\n\tLubbock Christian
\n\tAdams State
\n\tColo. Colorado Springs (UCCS)
\n\tUT Tyler
\n\tEastern New Mexico
\n\tSt. Mary’s (TX)
\n\tWestern Colorado
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\nFIVE FACTS ABOUT WNMU\u00a0\u00a0
\n1 > Western New Mexico enters the matchup at 1-24 overall and 1-17 in Lone Star Conference play, sitting 17th in the league standings. The Mustangs are 0-11 at home, 1-11 on the road and 0-2 at neutral sites, with their lone conference win coming Feb. 12 at Sul Ross State (49-45). WNMU has dropped two straight and 17 of its last 18 contests, with its last five losses coming by an average margin of 14.8 points.
\n2 > The Mustangs rank 15th (last) in the LSC in scoring offense (53.5 ppg) and field-goal percentage (.330). They shoot 26.4% from three-point range and average 5.0 made threes per game. In conference play, those numbers sit at 54.7 points per game on 33.1% shooting, highlighting ongoing efficiency challenges.
\n3 > Defensively, WNMU allows 77.3 points per game (72.9 in conference play) and opponents are shooting 47.0% from the field overall and 34.2% from three. The Mustangs rank last in the LSC in scoring margin (-23.8 overall, -18.2 in conference). They are also being outrebounded by 8.6 boards per game overall and nearly 10 per game in league play.
\n4 > Freshman guard Jordan Sapien leads WNMU in scoring (13.5 ppg overall; 15.6 in conference), assists (79), and steals (50). She ranks fourth in the LSC in steals per game (2.08) and fourth in assists (3.3 per game). In the Mustangs’ most recent outing versus St. Mary’s, Sapien recorded 14 points and three steals while playing 35+ minutes per contest in conference play.
\n5 > Teeya Gordon provides the Mustangs’ primary interior production, averaging 11.1 points and 6.1 rebounds overall (6.4 rpg in conference). She is third in the LSC in offensive rebounds per game (2.9) and posted an 18-point, 14-rebound double-double in WNMU’s last game against St. Mary’s. Gordon’s ability to generate second-chance points remains a key factor in WNMU’s offensive approach.
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\nTHE SERIES AGAINST WNMU
\nThe Mustangs and Lady Chaps are set to meet for the 31st time in an all-time\u00a0series\u00a0that dates back to 1980.\u00a0WNMU\u00a0has not defeated the Lady Chaps since 1994, which has led to LCU taking a 20-10\u00a0series\u00a0advantage. LCU has won the prior 17 meetings, with the latest resulting in a 77-46 LCU win Feb. 6, 2025 in Silver City. LCU is 11-2 all-time in Lubbock where they have rattled off 10 consecutive wins. This season marks the first time since 2017 in which the teams are meeting once in a single season. The 2019-20 season’s home-and-home conference schedule marked the first time the two teams had a home-and-home set scheduled in a single season since 1994, when each were members of the NAIA.\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0
\nPRIOR MEETING VS. WNMU
\nSILVER CITY, N.M. (Feb. 6, 2025) \u2013 LCU 77 \u2013 WNMU 46 \u00a0
\nMaci Maddox<\/a> recorded 17 points and a career-high nine rebounds, and No. 14 Lubbock Christian used a season-best 38 bench points to roll past Western New Mexico 77-46 in Lone Star Conference play at Drag’s Court.
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\nLCU placed three in double figures, with Audrey Spurgin<\/a> adding 11 points off the bench and Grace Foster<\/a> scoring 10. The Lady Chaps shot 12-of-26 from three-point range \u2014 their ninth game this season with 10-or-more made threes \u2014 and held WNMU to 33.3% shooting.
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\nLCU led 20-9 after one quarter and stretched the margin to 42-20 at halftime before cruising to the 31-point victory, matching its largest win in Silver City. Maddox finished 7-of-8 from the field, narrowly missing a double-double.
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\nFoster moved into second all-time in program scoring history, passing Beth Capps (1,773 points) in the contest. LCU has won 17 straight in the series and is 20-10 all-time against the Mustangs.
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\n\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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