Game #8
Lindenwood (4-3, 0-0 OVC)
vs. Alabama A&M (4-3, 0-0 SWAC)
Match Information:
Date: Saturday, Dec. 7th, 2024
Location: St. Charles, Mo.
Venue: Robert F. Hyland Arena
Tip-Off: 1:00 p.m. CT
All-Time Series: First Meeting
Last Meeting: N/A
Live Stats: Stats
Live Video: Watch

Matchup
Lindenwood women's basketball returns to Hyland Arena to start a four-game homestand as they take on Alabama A&M on Saturday, Dec. 7th at 1:00 p.m. CT inside Hyland Arena. Both teams come into Saturday's matchup with a 4-3 record. The Lions will not play a road game until the second weekend of Ohio Valley Conference play when they go to Eastern Illinois on Thursday, Jan. 2nd.

During their last game, Lindenwood battled their first ranked opponent in program history when they faced #25 Nebraska on Tuesday. Lindenwood led at halftime in Lincoln by a score of 30-27, but was out-scored 42-18 in the second half as they suffered their third loss this season. With just two games remaining in the non-conference, Lindenwood has the opportunity to go into conference play with an above .500 record for the first time since moving to Division I.

Ellie Brueggemann continues to lead the Lindenwood Lions women's basketball program in points this season averaging 12.4 during her sophomore season. The Oklahoma native has turned it up from beyond the three-point point line in her last four games making multiple threes in four straight games. Against Nebraska, Brueggemann nailed three triples and led the Lions in points with nine.

Lindenwood is looking to snap a two-game losing streak as they start this home stretch. The Lions' last win came against Kansas City when they defeated the Roos 67-62. Alabama A&M also defeated Kansas City earlier this season in Huntsville, Ala. by a final score of 57-52. Lindenwood's next opponent will by Omaha on Saturday, Dec. 14th.

Player to Watch
Gracy Wernli has also started her Lindenwood career off to a good start scoring in double-figures in four out of her last five games. Wernli ranks third on the team in Field Goal Percentage (min. 40 attempts) with a 44.2% clip.

She scored a career-high 16 points in a 67-62 win over Kansas City. Wernli has become one of the OVC's best free-throw shooters after going 21-22 this season. She has made her last 10 attempts coming into Saturday's game.

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 Alabama A&M
The Bulldogs are led by first-year head coach Dawn E. Thornton where she previously was the head-coach at Arkansas Pine-Bluff for the previous five season. With her came five transfer from Pine-Bluff including their leading scorer Kalia Walker. She is averaging 14.4 points a game through seven games while shooting 39.4% from three-point range.

The Bulldogs are averaging 64.6 points per game while allowing 65.4 ppg. Opponents are shooting 45.4% from the field and 31.7% from beyond the arc. Lindenwood will look to capitalize on the Bulldogs' turnovers as they give away the ball 16.3 times 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 continues their home stretch on next Saturday, Nov. 14th when they face the University of Nebraska-Omaha at 1:00 p.m. CT inside Hyland Arena. For more information go to lindenwoodlions.com.