Game #28
Lindenwood (20-7, 16-2 OVC)
at Western Illinois (13-14, 7-11 OVC)
Match Information:
Date: Tuesday, Feb. 25th, 2025
Location: Macomb, Ill.
Venue: Western Hall
Tip-Off: 5:00 p.m. CT
All-Time Series: 1-2
Last Meeting: W, 63-59
Live Stats: Stats
ESPN+: Watch

Matchup
Lindenwood women's basketball jumps into their week of the 2024-25 regular season with a match-up against Western Illinois on Tuesday, Feb. 25th at 5:00 p.m. CT. The Lions have already claimed a top-two seed at the Ohio Valley Conference Championships in Evansville, Ind. but are looking to secure their first ever honor of OVC Regular Season Champions.

On Saturday at in-state rival SEMO, Lindenwood held the Redhawks to 47 points, their lowest against a Division I opponent in their history. It also marked their second lowest ever during their Division I history (36 vs. Hannibal-LaGrange). Four different Lions scored in double-figures in the win at SEMO including 11 from Mya Skoff, Brooke Coffey and Justis Odom. Nine different players scored at least five points as LU shot 47.3% from the floor. Lindenwood has now climbed to 11 straight victories, the 15th longest active win streak in the country. Head coach Amy Eagan has posted a plus-13 win improvement from a season ago after going 7-21 during her first season at Lindenwood.

With two games remaining on the schedule, the battle for first in the OVC is tightly contested. Both Lindenwood and Tennessee Tech are 16-2 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.

Through 27 games this season, Lindenwood is averaging 68.5 points per game and have scored over 65 points 19 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 35.3%. 

The Leathernecks are coached by JD Gravina who enters his 14th season at the helm in Macomb, Ill. During the 2023-24 season, Gravina set the all-time wins record at WIU with his 193rd victory.

Player to Watch
Mya Skoff has scored in double-figures in seven of her last eight games coming into Tuesday's contest. In her 18 starts in conference play, she is averaging 11.3 ppg while shooting 45.9% from the field and 38.3% from three. She tied her career-high last Thursday with 20 points 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 Western Illinois
The Leathernecks have lost five out of their last six OVC games including two straight on the road at Little Rock and SEMO last week. Western Illinois currently has a 7-11 OVC record and has secured their spot in the OVC Championships in Evansville, Ind.

WIU is averaging just over 70 points per game this season and are led by sophomore Reagan McCowan who is averaging a team-best 21.0 points per game. Earlier this season against the Lions, McCowan scored 26 points in the loss while shooting a perfect 12-12 from the foul line.

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 ends the regular season on Saturday, March 1st with a meeting against Tennessee Tech. As it stands today, the Lions and Golden Eagles are in a battle for first in the OVC with two games remaining. For more information go to lindenwoodlions.com.