Game #16
Lindenwood (9-6, 5-1 OVC)
at Southern Indiana (12-5, 4-2 OVC)
Match Information:
Date: Thursday, Jan. 16th, 2025
Location: Evansville, Ind.
Venue: Liberty Arena
Tip-Off: 5:00 p.m. CT
All-Time Series: 0-8
Last Meeting: L, 38-75
Live Stats: Stats
Live Video: Watch

Matchup
Lindenwood women's basketball looks to continue on their three-game win streak as they take on defending Ohio Valley Conference Champion Southern Indiana on Thursday starting at 5:00 p.m. CT. With their 5-1 start to conference play, it marks their best start since the 2018-19 season when they were in the MIAA.

Heading into Evansville, Ind., the Lions took care of business at home defeating UT Martin last Saturday by a final score of 79-73. Lindenwood had four double-digit scorers including Brooke Coffey who posted a career-high 17 points on 6-13 shooting. Coffey also had 11 rebounds for her second consecutive double-double helping her land the OVC Newcomer of the Week. This marked the third time she has won this award.

Ellie Brueggemann also scored 16-points in the win against UT Martin. Brueggemann has made at last four threes in each of her last two games. Justis Odom (13 points) and Gracy Wernli (10 points) also scored double figures in the Lions fifth OVC win of the season.

Through 15 games this season, Lindenwood is averaging 66.5 points per game and have scored over 65 points 10 times this season including in six out of their last seven games. When Lindenwood scores over 65 points this season, the Lions are 7-3 including a 4-1 conference record when scoring at least 65. LU has held opponents under 65 points nine times this season including 54 to TTU. OVC play has seen three different Lions score in double-figures including Coffey who is averaging 11.8.

Southern Indiana is coached by 26th-year head coach Rick Stein who led the Screaming Eagles to an OVC regular season and tournament championship in just their second year in the OVC. USI is currently 12-5 on the season while averaging 74.6 points per game and shooting 45.7% from the floor.

Player to Watch
Brooke Coffey is Lindenwood's second leading scorer after transferring from Illinois State. Coffey is averaging 10.3 points per game while shooting 47.5% from the field good for first on the team (min. 80 attempts).

Coffey is also Lindenwood's leading rebounder averaging 6.7 a night. Coffey posted two back-to-back double-doubles last week on her way to the OVC Newcomer of the Week. She averaged 13.5 ppg and 11 rpg vs. TSU and UTM.

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 Southern Indiana
Southern Indiana currently has a 12-5 overall record including a 4-2 OVC record. The Screaming Eagles are 1-2 in their last three games including a loss to Little Rock in Arkansas by a final score of 83-89. As a team, USI is shooting 45.7% from the field.

Their leading scorer is currently Meredith Raley who has started all 17 games for the Screaming Eagles. She is averaging 14.8 points per game while shooting 53.0% from the floor and 37.2% from three. Vanessa Shafford is second on the team in scoring averaging 12.0 ppg and 7.0 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 continues their road trip on Saturday, Jan. 18th at Morehead State. The Lions will tip-off at 12:00 p.m. CT.