Game #27
Lindenwood (19-7, 15-2 OVC)
at Southeast Missouri State (5-21, 3-14 OVC)
Match Information:
Date: Saturday, Feb. 22nd, 2025
Location: Cape Girardeau, Mo.
Venue: Show Me Center
Tip-Off: 1:30 p.m. CT
All-Time Series: 2-4
Last Meeting: W, 84-76
Live Stats: Stats
ESPN+: Watch

Matchup
Lindenwood women's basketball returns to the state of Missouri as they take on Southeast Missouri State on Saturday, Feb. 22nd at 1:30 p.m. CT. Earlier this season at home, the Lions defeated the Redhawks by a final score of 84-76. This marked the third most points scored in a game this season for Lindenwood. LU remains in a dead-heat for first place in the Ohio Valley Conference with a 15-2 conference record.

It was a defensive win on Thursday as the Lions went on the road to Little Rock and picked up a 60-51 victory over the Trojans. Brooke Coffey led the way with 15-points and five rebounds as the Lions improved to 19-7 on the year. This win marked two special occasions for this group. Lindenwood has now won a program-high 10 wins in a row which is also the 17th longest active win streak in the country. This win also marked head coach Amy Eagan's 300th career victory over her 16-year career. Eagan has posted a plus-12 win improvement from a season ago after going 7-21 during her first season.

With three games remaining on the schedule, the battle for first in the OVC is tightly contested. Both Lindenwood and Tennessee Tech are 15-2 in conference play with Lindenwood currently holding the tie-breaker after the Lions won in Hyland Arena by a score of 67-54. These two teams will meet at the end of the regular season in Cookeville, Tenn. which could be a game to decide the Regular Season OVC Championship.

Through 26 games this season, Lindenwood is averaging 68.5 points per game and have scored over 65 points 18 times this season, but have found other ways to win in recent weeks. The three-point shot has found its rhythm during OVC play as the Lions rank second in the OVC in three-point shooting with a 35.7%. 

The Redhawks are coached by Briley Palmer who is in her first year at SEMO. They are coming off a 51-49 win vs. Western Illinois on Thursday.

Player to Watch
Brooke Coffey led the Lions on Thursday night with 15 points in a 60-51 win over Little Rock. Coffey is third on the team in scoring this season averaging 10.6 ppg while shooting a team-high 49.8% from the floor. The 6-1 forward from St. Charles, Mo. found her stroke from three on Thursday tying her career-high with three made threes.

During OVC play, Coffey is one of four Lions to average over 11 points per game. In 17 conference games this season, Coffey is averaging 11.3 points per game while grabbing 7.2 rebounds. She has scored in double-figures in all but five OVC games so far.

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 SEMO
SEMO is coming off a big-win at the Show Me Center on Thursday knocking off Western Illinois 51-49. The Redhawks sit at 5-21 this season with a 3-14 OVC record. Their win on Thursday snapped a 13-game losing streaking dating back to Jan. 2nd.

The Redhawks are led by Zoe Best who is averaging a team-high 13.6 points per game while starting all 25 games. Best is shooting 36.3% from the floor and 34.7% from behind the arc including making a team-high 58 triples.

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 will have a quick turn-around this week as they play on Tuesday, Feb. 25th at Western Illinois in Macomb, Ill at 5:00 p.m. CT. For more information go to lindenwoodlions.com.