Game #23
Lindenwood (15-7, 11-2 OVC)
at Tennessee State (7-16, 3-10 OVC)
Match Information:
Date: Saturday, Feb. 8th, 2025
Location: Nashville, Tenn.
Venue: Gentry Center
Tip-Off: 1:00 p.m. CT
All-Time Series: 2-2
Last Meeting: W, 68-54
Live Stats: Stats
Live Video: Watch

Matchup
Lindenwood women's basketball are winners of nine out of their last 10 games including six straight after picking up a road victory against UT Martin on Thursday by a final score of 62-59. The Lions will stay in Tennessee on Saturday as they take on the Lady Tigers of Tennessee State at 1:00 p.m. CT inside the Gentry Center. Lindenwood is still in a three-way tie for first-place in the Ohio Valley Conference heading into Saturday's match-up.

It was a defensive battle in Martin, Tenn. on Thursday but the Lions were able to close it out after a big time block by Ellie Brueggemann led to an and-one on the other end to stretch the Lions lead to seven late in the fourth quarter. Brueggemann and Brooke Coffey both led the team in points scoring 16 each as the Lions defeated UT Martin. Coffey also posted her fourth double-double of the season (16 points, 11 rebounds) helping the Lions sweep the season series against UTM. Despite being held to under 27.0% shooting in the first quarter, Lindenwood responded in the second half shooting 14-25 from the field (56.0%).

Head coach Amy Eagan moves to career win 296 after Thursday's victory, just four wins away from her 300th. Eagan has led the Lions to a 15-7 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 22 games this season, Lindenwood is averaging 68.0 points per game and have scored over 65 points 15 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 36.7%. 

Tennessee State is coached by first-year head coach Candice Dupree who was a seven-time WNBA All-Star during her time in the league. She has led the Lady Tigers to a 7-16 record, but is on a two-game win streak.

Player to Watch
Ellie Brueggemann has turned it up as of late making multiple threes in six out of her last nine games. In OVC play, she leads the conference in three-point percentage at 44.4% (28-63). Brueggemann is averaging a team-high 11.9 points per game while shooting 40.8% from the floor and 35.6% from three.

She has scored in double-figures in six of her last nine games and in eight of the 13 OVC games. An underrated passer, Brueggemann averages 2.4 assists this season and has posted at least three assists 11 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 Tennessee State
The Lady Tigers are currently averaging 64.1 points per game with a 7-16 overall record. In OVC play, they are coming off back-to-back wins over Southeast Missouri State and Western Illinois. On Thursday, TSU knocked off Western Illinois at home by a final score of 70-66.

Somah Kamara is the Lady Tigers' leading scoring averaging 14.3 points per game while shooting 41.4% from the field and 26.8% from long range. Saniah Parker is their second leading scorer averaging 11.3 points per game. She scored a team-high 17 points against LU earlier this season.

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 for their final two home games of the season against Morehead State and Southern Indiana starting on Thursday, Feb. 13th. For more information go to lindenwoodlions.com.