Game #7
Lindenwood (4-2, 0-0 OVC)
at #25 Nebraska (6-1, 0-0 Big 10)
Match Information:
Date: Tuesday, Dec. 3rd, 2024
Location: Lincoln, Neb.
Venue: Pinnacle Bank Arena
Tip-Off: 7:00 p.m. CT
All-Time Series: First Meeting
Last Meeting: N/A
Live Stats: Stats
Live Video: Watch

Matchup
Lindenwood women's basketball is back after the holiday break as they take on #25 Nebraska in Lincoln, Neb on Tuesday, Dec. 3rd at 7:00 p.m. CT. This marks the first time that Lindenwood has faced-off against a ranked-opponent in their Division I history. Lindenwood enters Tuesday's matchup with a 4-2 record.

The Lions are coming off a 79-99 loss at Oral Roberts last Monday in Tulsa, Okla. Their 79 points marked their most points scored against a Division I opponent this season. Lindenwood had four double-digit scorers last week including a season-high 16 points from LU's leading scorer Ellie Brueggemann. Alyssa Nielsen and Gracie Kelsey also had 12 points each off the bench.

Nebraska is coming into this week's matchup with a 6-1 record including a victory over Kansas City (84-38) in their last game. Lindenwood defeated UMKC earlier this season by a score of 67-62 in Kansas City, Mo.

Head coach Amy Eagan has brought some new faces into the Lindenwood locker room this season that have made an immediate impact. Gracy Wernli, a transfer from Abilene Christian, is the Lions' second leading scorer averaging 11.3 points per game and is shooting 47.7% from the floor. Brooke Coffey, an Illinois State transfer, is a St. Charles, Mo. native who is LU's third leading scorer averaging just shy of 10 points per game (9.8 ppg). 

The Lions have been active at getting to the foul line as they have had at least 20 attempts in a game four times this season. Five Lions are already in double-figures in Free Throws Made this season including Wernli who is 21-22 from the FT line.

Lindenwood enters their third Division I season this year under head coach Eagan who is in her second year at LU. The Lions were picked to finish in 7th in the Ohio Valley Conference in the Preseason Poll.

Player to Watch
Gracie Kelsey has seen her first minutes of action this season in the last two games for the Lions. Coming off a season-ending injury during the 2023-24 season, Kelsey has responded with a 12-point performance against Oral Roberts last week. Kelsey shot 4-5 from the field while going a perfect 4-4 from the line. She also grabbed eight rebounds in just nine minutes of action.

During the 2023-24 season, Kelsey appeared in 11 games making two starts. She averaged 5.5 points per game while shooting 42.6% from the field. Kelsey scored a career-high 15 points against Bradley while shooting 5-10 from the floor and 5-6 at the line. She also had a career-high nine rebounds against Northern Illinois while chipping in 12 points.

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 Nebraska
The Huskers of Nebraska are led by nine-year head coach Amy Williams. The 2018 Big 10 Coach of the Year has guided Nebraska to three NCAA tournament appearances in her career including in 2024 after Nebraska finished with a 23-12 record. Over her career, Williams has posted 330 career wins.

Alexis Markowski comes into Tuesday's matchup starting all seven games to start the year. She leads the team in points per game averaging 15.0 while shooting 51.9% from the floor and 41.7% from three-point range. Markowski also leads the team in rebounds averaging 7.9

Natalie Potts has also helped Nebraska to a 6-1 start in 2024 after scoring 14.4 points a night. Potts has been effective from the floor shooting 68.4% with 26 made field-goals. She is also 8-11 from long range while also grabbing over 7.0 rebounds a game.

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 returns home to Hyland Arena on Saturday, Dec. 7th when they take on Alabama A&M at 1:00 p.m. CT. For more information go to lindenwoodlions.com.