Game #17
Lindenwood (9-7, 5-2 OVC)
at Morehead State (7-10, 2-5 OVC)
Match Information:
Date: Saturday, Jan. 18th, 2025
Location: Morehead State, Ky.
Venue: Johnson Arena
Tip-Off: 12:00 p.m. CT
All-Time Series: 0-3
Last Meeting: L, 59-72
Live Stats: Stats
Live Video: Watch

Matchup
Lindenwood women's basketball will look to rebound on Saturday after their nail-biter loss at Southern Indiana when they face-off against Morehead State in Morehead, Ky. at 12:00 p.m. CT. After Thursday's result, the Lions drop to 5-2 in conference play, one of five teams to have at least five wins in conference play this season.

The Lions made a trip to Evansville, Ind. on Thursday and fell for only their second OVC loss of the season by a final score of 70-66. USI hit a three-pointer with 18 seconds left to give them the lead. Lindenwood had four double-digit scorers in the loss including a team-high Gracy Wernli with 14. She scored all of her points in the first half of the game. Brooke Coffey also added 12-points after being named the OVC Newcomer of the Week last week. Coffey is a three-time OVC Newcomer of the Week selection.

Lindenwood shot 46.0% from the field against the Screaming Eagles and 8-18 from behind the arc. USI out-scored the Lions 37-26 in the second half after the Lions went into the locker room leading 40-33. Mykayla Cunningham (11) and Ellie Brueggemann (10) also had double-figures in the scoring column.

Through 16 games this season, Lindenwood is averaging 66.5 points per game and have scored over 65 points 11 times this season including in seven out of their last eight games. When Lindenwood scores over 65 points this season, the Lions are 7-4 including a 4-2 conference record. 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 11.9.

Morehead State is coached by interm head coach Chris Palmer who had led the Eagles to a 7-10 start this season. MSU is averaging just shy of 70 points this season per game (69.9) while shooting 40.9% from the floor. They are coming off a 92-63 loss vs. Western Illinois.

Player to Watch
Gracie Kelsey has played in 10 games so far this season averaging almost 12 minutes a night. In her last game against Southern Indiana, she scored only two points but contributed seven rebounds and two blocks.

For the season, she is averaging 5.5 points per game while shooting 47.5% from the floor. Kelsey is also the Lions' third leading rebounder averaging 4.6 rebounds a game. Behind Odom, she has grabbed the second most offensive rebounds on the team (21).

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 Morehead State
Morehead State is coming off a 92-63 loss at home against Western Illinois on Thursday. The Eagles are currently 2-5 in OVC play this season including wins against Tennessee State and SEMO.

Kate Novik has played and started in 16 games this season while missing her first game vs. Western Illinois this week. She is averaging 13.4 points per game as the lone double-figure scorer for MSU. Harley Paynter tied her season-best in points on Thursday with 19 on 7-18 shooting.

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 next Thursday to start a four-game home stretch with a meeting vs. Southeast Missouri State at 5:00 p.m. CT. inside Hyland Arena. For more information go to lindenwoodlions.com.