Game #11
Lindenwood (5-5, 1-0 OVC)
vs. Western Illinois (5-4, 0-1 OVC)
Match Information:
Date: Saturday, Dec. 21st, 2024
Location: St. Charles, Mo.
Venue: Robert F. Hyland Arena
Tip-Off: 1:00 p.m. CT
All-Time Series: 0-2
Last Meeting: L, 68-75
Live Stats: Stats
Live Video: Watch

Matchup
Lindenwood women's basketball closes out the 2024 portion of their schedule with a matchup against Western Illinois for their second Ohio Valley Conference game of the season. This also ends the Lions' four-game home stand as they will travel to Eastern Illinois on Thursday, Jan. 2nd. The Lions are currently 1-2 during this home stand at Hyland Arena.

Thursday saw the start of conference play for the Lions where they picked up their first OVC win of the season after defeating Tennessee Tech 67-54. It marked the first opening OVC win for the Lions since joining the conference during the 2022-23 season. LU shot 44.9% from the floor while making 20-23 from the foul line. Lindenwood had four double-digit scorers including 12 points from Mya Skoff who made her first start of the season. Ellie Brueggemann also had a team-high 14 points in the win over the Golden Eagles.

Through 10 games this season, Lindenwood is averaging 65.0 points per game and have scored over 65 points six times this season including in their win over TTU. When Lindenwood scores over 65 points this season, the Lions are 4-2 including wins over Evansville and Kansas City. LU has held opponents under 65 points six times this season including 54 to TTU, their third lowest of the year.

Western Illinois has already played one game in conference play last Tuesday when they fell to Tennessee Tech by a score of 72-52. The Leathernecks are coached by 14th year head coach JD Gravina who has led the Leathernecks to a 5-4 start to the season. Last year, Gravina coached WIU to a 9-9 conference record in their first year in the OVC. Gravina also holds the all-time wins record at Western Illinois.

Player to Watch
Gracy Wernli has been a consistent presence for the Lions in her first season in St. Charles. She is the second leading scorer on the team averaging 10.2 points per game while shooting 44.6% from the field and 26.8% from three. Wernli leads the conference in foul shooting after going 25-26 (96.2% FT) to start the season.

In her last seven games, Wernli has scored in double-figures in five of them including two straight. She has made a three in eight straight games this season including two in her last game against Tennessee Tech. Wernli scored 12 points vs. the Golden Eagles while shooting 4-8 from the field.

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 Western Illinois
Western Illinois enters Saturday's game with a 5-4 record but are currently on a three-game losing streak. In their OVC opener on Tuesday, the Leatherneck fell to Tennessee Tech by a final score of 52-72. WIU shot 21-58 from the floor vs. TTU including 6-22 from three-point range.

The Leathernecks are averaging 67.8 points per game this season which ranks fourth in the OVC. Raegan is the OVC leading scorer averaging 19.6 points per game while shooting 42.4% from the floor. She also ranks second in the OVC in rebounding averaging 8.0 per 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 will have over a week break before returning to action against Eastern Illinois in Charleston, Ill. on Thursday, Jan. 2nd at 5:00 p.m. CT. For more information go to lindenwoodlions.com.