Game #20
Lindenwood (12-7, 8-2 OVC)
vs. SIUE (4-15, 2-8 OVC)
Match Information:
Date: Thursday, Jan. 30th, 2025
Location: St. Charles, Mo.
Venue: Robert F. Hyland Arena
Tip-Off: 5:00 p.m. CT
All-Time Series: 2-3
Last Meeting: W, 73-59
Live Stats: Stats
Live Video: Watch

Matchup
Lindenwood women's basketball faces off for the second time this season against the Cougars of SIUE on Thursday, Jan. 30th at 5:00 p.m. CT inside Hyland Arena. This week will see the Lions host SIUE and Eastern Illinois as we hit the second part of the Ohio Valley Conference schedule. Lindenwood is currently 8-2 in conference play ranking second.

It took a heroic effort on Saturday for Lindenwood as Ellie Brueggemann hit a shot with 1.1 seconds remaining to knock off the Trojans of Little Rock by a final score of 70-68. The Lions are now winner of three straight games and have won six out of their last seven OVC games. Brooke Coffey scored a team-high 15 points in the win while also pulling down four rebounds. Justis Odom made her way back into the starting lineup scoring 13 points and grabbing a team-high seven rebounds. Odom went 9-11 at the foul line to help the Lions to a two-point victory.

The hero on Saturday, Brueggemann finished the game with nine point on 3-7 shooting while dishing out three assists. Gracy Wernli was active on both sides of the floor scoring 10 points while grabbing a career-high six rebounds from the guard position. Wernli has scored over 10+ points in five straight OVC games.

Through 19 games this season, Lindenwood is averaging 67.9 points per game and have scored over 65 points 14 times this season including in 10 out of their last 11 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 seven out of their last eight games.

SIUE is coached by Samantha Quigley Smith who enters her fourth season in Edwardsville, Ill. The Cougars enter Thursday's game with a 4-15 overall record and a 2-8 record in OVC play.

Player to Watch
Gracy Wernli has also found her shot from long range over the last couple of weeks making multiple threes in five straight games. The Abeline Christian transfer is averaging 11.1 points per game while shooting 45.4% from the floor and 32.5% from three. Wernli has scored in double-figures in six of her last seven games including 17 against SEMO last week.

During her first season at Lindenwood, Wernli is second on the team in scoring behind Brueggemann. She averages 27.6 minutes a game and has started all 19 games this season. Wernli also is second on the team in made threes with 27.

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 SIUE
The Cougars enter this week's games with a 4-15 record and a 2-8 OVC record. During their last game against Morehead State, they picked up just their second win in conference play with a 76-58 final score.

KK Rodriguez is their lone double-figure scorer averaging 12.8 points per game while shooting 36.0% from the field. Macy Silvey is the Cougars' second leading scorer averaging 8.9 ppg and 3.6 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 finishes off their four game home stand on Saturday, Feb. 1st with a meeting against the lone un-beaten team in the OVC Eastern Illinois at 1:00 p.m. CT. For more information go to lindenwoodlions.com.