Game #2
Lindenwood (0-1, 0-0 OVC)
vs. Bradley (1-0, 0-0 MVC)
Match Information:
Date: Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024
Location: St. Charles, Mo.
Venue: Robert F. Hyland Arena
Tip-Off: 6:00 p.m. CT
All-Time Series: 0-1
Last Meeting: L, 56-63
Live Stats: Stats
Live Video: Watch

Matchup
The Lindenwood women's basketball team will have their home opener this Tuesday, November 11th against the Braves of Bradley University starting at 6:00 p.m. CT. This marks the first of three straight home games for the Lions as they enter their third Division I season in the Ohio Valley Conference.

The Lions stood tall last week during the season opener at Big 12 opponent Kansas. Lindenwood lost by a final score of 56-43, but outscored the Jayhawks in the second half 32-27. It marked the smallest lost margin by a Lindenwood women's basketball team against a Power Four opponent.

Lindenwood and Bradley have played once before on December 2nd, 2023 when the Lions traveled to Peoria, Ill. The Braves would eventually defeat the Lions by a final score of 56-63. Elli Brueggemann led the way with 20 points while Gracie Kelsey added 15 off the bench.

Bradley is coached by Kate Popovec-Goss who enters his third season in Peoria. The Braves went 6-26 in 2023-24 including a 2-18 Missouri Valley Conference record. Popovec-Goss coached at Northwestern as the Associate Head Coach before becoming the head coach of Bradley in 2022.

Player to Watch
Brooke Coffey ended her Lindenwood debut last week with 10 points including shooting 5-7 from the floor. Coffey, a St. Charles, Mo. native, scored eight points in the second half helping the Lions outscore Kansas 32-27 in the second half.

Coffey was one of two players to score in double-figures in Lawrence last Wednesday. She also pulled down five rebounds and added a block in her debut.

OVC Preseason Rankings
The Ohio Valley Conference released their 2024-25 women's basketball preseason predicted order of finish earlier this off-season. Lindenwood was selected to finish seventh after going 7-21 a season ago and 5-13 in conference. 

Lindenwood received 81 points in the preseason poll which put them in seventh heading into the season. This marks the highest ranking for a Lindenwood women's basketball team in their three seasons in the league.

The defending OVC Champions Southern Indiana Screaming Eagle were selected to win the OVC after receiving 20 of the 22 first-place votes for a total of 200 points. UT Martin finished in second (180 points, 2 first-place votes) followed by Eastern Illinois (145) and Tennessee Tech (140). Little Rock rounds out the top five followed by Western Illinois, Lindenwood, SIUE, Morehead State, Tennessee State and SEMO.

The Ohio Valley Conference also selected two 'Players To Watch" from each OVC school to start the upcoming season. Brueggemann and newcomer Coffey were tabbed as Lindenwood's players to watch for the 2024-25 season.

Scouting Bradley
The Braves come into Tuesday's matchup 1-0 after winning their opening game against the University of St. Francis (Ill.) by a final score of 70-32. Bradley was led by Soleil Barnes who scored 15 points in 30 minutes played. A Toledo transfer, Barnes won three MAC regular season championships including a trip to the NCAA Tournament in 2023.

Tamia Perryman also scored 12 points off the bench in 24 minutes of action while shooting 4-5 from the field. As a team, the Braves shot 27-60 from the floor and 2-15 from three. They grabbed a total of 43 rebounds in their lone game including 12 offensive rebounds.

Head Coach: Amy Eagan
Eagan was named head coach of the Lindenwood women's basketball program on March 28, 2023.

In year one under Eagan, the Lions posted a 7-21 record. Lindenwood found itself in many close games, dropping eight contests by seven points or less. The black and gold led the OVC in turnover margin at +3.68. Ellie Brueggemann had an outstanding freshman campaign, averaging 13.8 points per game, which led to second team and all newcomer selections. Makayla Wallace set a new single season program record for steals with 72. She averaged 2.6 steals per game last season, tied for tops in the conference. It also ranked 24th nationally. 
 
Eagan arrives in St. Charles, Mo. after spending three seasons as the head coach of Drury University women's basketball.  Eagan completed her 14th season as a collegiate head coach, as she had stops at Truman State, Ashford, and St. Ambrose.
 
Eagan brings a career mark of 274-151 (.645) to Lindenwood, including four-straight seasons of 23 or more wins.  Eagan has led three schools to the NCAA Division II tournament for a total of five appearances, as well as one NAIA tournament appearance.  Eagan had claimed five conference titles in her 14 years, including three-straight.

Up Next
Lindenwood will continue their home stretch with a meeting with Harris-Stowe on Friday, Nov. 15th for Education Day. The festivities start at 11:00 a.m. CT inside Hyland Arena. For more information go to lindenwoodlions.com.