Game #21
Lindenwood (13-7, 9-2 OVC)
vs. Eastern Illinois (13-7, 10-1 OVC)
Match Information:
Date: Saturday, Feb. 1st, 2025
Location: St. Charles, Mo.
Venue: Robert F. Hyland Arena
Tip-Off: 1:00 p.m. CT
All-Time Series: 0-4
Last Meeting: L, 65-77
Live Stats: Stats
Live Video: Watch

Matchup
Lindenwood women's basketball will play host to an important game on Saturday as the top two teams in the Ohio Valley Conference clash inside Hyland Arena as Eastern Illinois comes to town with a 10-1 OVC record. The Lions sit one game outside of first-place with a 9-2 conference record. Lindenwood went 7-2 during the month of January including a perfect 5-0 at home.

Thursday night OVC action saw Lindenwood pick up an 86-70 victory over SIUE in Hyland Arena. The Lions shot a season high 63.6% from the floor in the win including a career-day from sophomore guard Mya Skoff. Skoff scored a career-high 20 points while dishing out a career-best four assists. Seven different Lions scored at least seven points on Thursday including Justis Odom and Gracy Wernli who both went over 10 points. Lindenwood dominated the painted area against the Cougars scoring 44 points.

Head coach Amy Eagan moves to career win 294 after Thursday's victory, just six wins away from her 300th. Eagan has led the Lions to a 13-7 record during the 2024-25 season, their most wins since the 2019-20 season. She has coached a trio of scorers who are averaging over 10 points, and six Lions are averaging over seven points a night.

Through 20 games this season, Lindenwood is averaging 68.9 points per game and have scored over 65 points 15 times this season including in 11 out of their last 12 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 eighth out of their last nine games.

Eastern Illinois is coached by first-year man Marqus McGlothan who has led the Panthers to a 13-7 record including a 10-1 start in OVC play. The Panthers are coming off their first OVC loss of the season on Thursday after losing up at Western Illinois by a final score of 62-52.

Player to Watch
Mya Skoff had a career-day against the Cougars of SIUE after scoring a career-high 20 points shooting 7-9 from the floor including four triples. Skoff was active on both ends of the floor adding four rebounds, four assists (career-high), two steals and one block.

She has started all 11 games for the Lions in OVC play helping them to an 9-2 start. In those 11 games, Skoff has scored in double-figures six times. Skoff is averaging 8.7 points per game while shooting 43.4% from the floor and 33.3% from three.

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 Eastern Illinois
The Panthers suffered their first OVC loss of the season on Thursday night at Western Illinois by a final score of 62-52. They still lead the conference heading into Saturday's matchup with a 10-1 record. EIU defeated Lindenwood earlier this season in Charleston, Ill. by a final of 77-65.

The 2023-24 OVC Player and Defender of the Year Macy McGlone is averaging a team-high 18.3 points per game this season while pulling down a league-best 10.9 rebounds. During the 2024-25 season, she has posted 11 double-doubles. McGlone has been named the OVC Player of the Week five times.

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 goes back on the road on Thursday, Feb. 6th against the Skyhawks of UT Martin at 5:30 p.m. CT. For more information go to lindenwoodlions.com.