Game #19
Lindenwood (11-7, 7-2 OVC)
vs. Little Rock (9-9, 7-2 OVC)
Match Information:
Date: Saturday, Jan. 25th, 2025
Location: St. Charles, Mo.
Venue: Robert F. Hyland Arena
Tip-Off: 5:00 p.m. CT
All-Time Series: 1-3
Last Meeting: W, 61-54
Live Stats: Stats
Live Video: Watch

Matchup
Lindenwood women's basketball concludes the week with a battle of 7-2 Ohio Valley Conference teams when they face-off against Little Rock on Saturday, Jan. 25th at 1:00 p.m. CT. The Lions are winners of five of their last six games and are coming off an eight-point victory over in-state rival SEMO on Thursday.

In the Battle for Interstate 55, Lindenwood was able to pick up their seventh OVC victory of the season after defeating SEMO by a score of 84-76. Four Lions scored in double-figures on Thursday including Ellie Brueggemann who led the team with 19 points. The sophomore guard shot 6-10 from the floor with all six field-goals coming from beyond the three-point line. Her six made threes were the most this season for Brueggemann and the most since last season when she made seven against UT Martin.

Gracy Wernli continued her great start in conference play after scoring 17 points in the win. Wernli has scored in double-figures six times during OVC play including in four straight games. Justis Odom made her return to the floor on Thursday after being side-lined during their trip to Morehead State. In her return, Odom posted 12 points, four rebounds and three assists helping the Lions to victory. Mya Skoff also made her way into double-figures after scoring 12 points and going 8-10 at the foul line.

Through 18 games this season, Lindenwood is averaging 67.8 points per game and have scored over 65 points 13 times this season including in nine out of their last 10 games. LU's three-point shot has found its rhythm during OVC play as the Lions lead the conference in three-point shooting with a 38.7%. They have made at least six threes in their last seven games.

Little Rock is coached by Steve Wiedower who enters his first season at the helm after previously being an assistant coach under Joe Foley since 2015. He has led the Trojans to a 7-2 start in OVC play coming in Saturday.

Player to Watch
Brueggemann has turned it up as of late making multiple threes in five straight games. In OVC play, she leads the conference in three-point percentage at 52.2% (24-46). Brueggemann is averaging a team-high 12.3 points per game while shooting 40.8% from the floor and 37.4% from three.

She has scored in double-figures in five straight games and in seven of the nine OVC games. An underrated passer, Brueggemann averages 2.3 assists this season and has posted at least three assists eight times this season including 6 vs. Morehead State.

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 Little Rock
After starting 2-7 during the non-conference portion of their season, Little Rock has responded with a 7-2 OVC record, tied with the Lions and two other teams for the second best conference record. The Trojans are averaging 61.2 points per game this season while posting a 3.9 turnover margin, best in the OVC.

Little Rock is led by a trio of double-digit scorers including Faith Lee who leads the team averaging 16.4 points per game. Lee has started 17 of 18 games this season while shooting 40.3% from the field. Jordan Holman is also averaging 11.8 points per game while grabbing almost five rebounds a night (4.9).

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 week to continue their four-game home stand when they take on the Cougars of SIUE on Thursday, Jan. 30th at 5:00 p.m. CT. For more information go to lindenwoodlions.com.