Game #6
Lindenwood (4-1, 0-0 OVC)
at Oral Roberts (4-1, 0-0 SL)
Match Information:
Date: Monday, Nov. 25th, 2024
Location: Tulsa, Okla.
Venue: Mabee Center
Tip-Off: 5:00 p.m. CT
All-Time Series: First Meeting
Last Meeting: N/A
Live Stats: Stats
Live Video: Watch

Matchup
A battle of 4-1 teams for Lindenwood women's basketball as they battle Oral Roberts in a non-conference matchup on Monday, Nov 25th at 5:0 p.m. CT in Tulsa, Okla. Lindenwood is currently on a four-game win streak which is the longest during the Amy Eagan era.

The Lions are coming off a 67-62 road victory at Kansas City on Friday. Lindenwood held the Roos to 23.5% shooting during the fourth quarter which lifted them to a five-point win. Lindenwood had four double-digit scorers including a career-high 16 points from Gracy Wernli. Justis Odom also scored 12 points, Odom has scored in double-figures in three of her last four games.

Lindenwood is averaging 66.4 points per game while shooting 42.1% from the field. Despite the Lions shooting 25.0% form downtown, Lindenwood has made six and eight three pointers in their last two games respectively. Oral Roberts is also off to a hot start with a 4-1 record including a 21-point victory at SEC opponent Arkansas.

The Golden Eagles are coached by third-year head coach Kelsi Musick. Last season, Oral Roberts went 21-11 including an 11-5 record in Summit League play. The Golden Eagles made the postseason at the WNIT last season losing by two to Grambling State in the opening round.

Lindenwood's defense has been aggressive this season holding opponents to under 40,0% from the field and averaging 60.8 points per game. LU has also been taking care of the ball turning the ball over 79 times in five games compared to 95 times for their opponents. LU has also created 40 steals this season. Lindenwood was picked to finish seventh in the Ohio Valley Conference this season marking their highest picked finish in their three season in Division I.

Player to Watch
Mykayla Cunningham has been Lindenwood's do-it-all player through the first five-games of the season. Cunningham is averaging just shy of 7.0 ppg (6.8) while shooting 33.3% from the field. She leads the team in assists (19), steals (10) and minutes played averaging 31.4 a night.

Cunningham is coming-off an impressive performance against Kansas City to help the Lions extend their four-game win streak. Despite only make one field-goal, Cunningham had nine points while shooting 7-8 from the line. She also added a team-high six rebounds and five assists while adding two steals.

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 Oral Roberts
Oral Roberts have been off to a hot start just like Lindenwood posting a 4-1 record while winning their last three games. They are coming off an impressive 21-point victory over SEC opponent Arkansas in Fayetteville, Ark.

The Golden Eagles are led by five double-digit scorers including Jalei Oglesby who is leading the team in scoring averaging 15.2 ppg while shooting 56.4% from the field. Against the Razorbacks, she scored 23-points on 9-15 shooting while going 5-5 from the foul line. Oglesby is also ORU's sixth man coming off the bench

Ruthie Udoumah has started all five games for the Golden Eagles and is second in scoring averaging 14.8 points per game. She has scored in double-figures in four out of the first five games and has grabbed double-digit rebounds in her last three games including a season-high 16 vs. Tulsa. Udoumah is averaging 11.8 rebounds a night.

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 have a week off before heading to Lincoln, Neb. to take on #21 ranked Nebraska on Tuesday, Dec. 3rd at 7:00 p.m. CT. For more information go to lindenwoodlions.com.