LUBBOCK, Texas (June 7, 2012) - Lubbock Christian University had a pair of women's basketball representatives honored by the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches, as the TABC honored Lady Chaparrals head coach Steve Gomez as the Women's Small College Coach of the Year and Kelsey Canavan was named Women's Small College Player of the Year.

Gomez joined Baylor head coach Kim Mulkey (Division I) and Kenya and Michael Landers (Junior College) of Trinity Valley as the other recipients honored for their coaching efforts at the collegiate level in Texas.  LCU completed a 28-6 season this season despite three players (two starters) suffering season-ending knee injuries within a three week period prior to the start of the season.  The Lady Chaps marched all the way to the Fab Four of the NAIA National Championship Tournament in Frankfort, Ky. before falling to eventual champion Oklahoma City University.  It was their second semifinal appearance in program history.  The Lady Chaps also shared the Sooner Athletic Conference regular season title for their second conference title in program history.

Canavan, who completed her junior season, joined Baylor star player Brittany Griner (Division 1) and Ole Miss signee ShaKayla Caples (Junior College) of Trinity Valley as the collegiate representatives of the Women's Player of the Year honors handed out by the TABC.  The El Paso native became the fourth player in Lady Chaps program history to achieve Second Team NAIA All-American status or better this season.  Canavan led LCU and the Sooner Athletic Conference averaging 16.3 points a game.  She finished ranked tenth nationally in field goal shooting with a mark of 55% (fifth best single-season mark in program history). Canavan finished with 280 rebounds for the second highest single-season mark in program history, 562 points for the third best single-season total, 236 field goals made for the second most made in a single-season and 429 attempts for the fourth most in a single season.  She claimed Second Team All-Tournament honors at the NAIA national championships after leading the tournament in rebounds with 41.