Game #30
Lindenwood (20-9, 16-4 OVC)
vs. TBA
Match Information:
Date: Friday, Mar. 7th, 2025
Location: Evansville, Ind.
Venue: Ford Center
Tip-Off: 3:30 p.m. CT
Live Stats: Stats
ESPN+: Watch

Matchup
Lindenwood women's basketball will make their debut at the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament this Friday, March. 7th during the OVC Semi-Finals after receiving a double-bye as the #2-seed. This marks the first appearance by the Lions in Evansville for the OVC Championships since joining the conference back during the 2022-23 season. LU has an overall record of 20-9 and a OVC record of 16-4, marking their most overall wins since the 2018-19 season and the most conference wins in their NCAA era (2011-present).

It was announced on Tuesday, March 4th that head coach Amy Eagan was named the OVC Coach of the Year after posting a +13 win improvement from her first-season in St. Charles, Mo. Eagan led the Lions to a perfect 10-0 home conference record along with coaching two All-OVC selections. Ellie Brueggemann was named to the All-OVC First team after leading the Lions in scoring with an average of 11.6 ppg. The St. Charles native Brooke Coffey was also named to the All-OVC Second Team along with the All-OVC Newcomer team after transferring from Illinois State. Coffey averaged 10.4 ppg while leading the Lions in rebounding averaging 6.4 on the glass.

Lindenwood looks to respond on Friday during the semi-finals after dropping their final two games of the regular season. The Lions dropped their final game on the road against the eventual OVC Regular Season Championships Tennessee Tech by a final score of 77-59. As the bracket is not finalized yet, the Lions will face either a trio of teams in the semi-finals: #3 Eastern Illinois, #6 UT Martin or #7 Western Illinois

Through 29 games this season, Lindenwood is averaging 68.2 points per game and have scored over 65 points 20 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 34.6%. 

Player to Watch
Brueggemann returned to Lindenwood for her sophomore season after being named to the All-OVC Second Team a season ago. She leads the Lions this season in scoring average at 11.6 ppg while shooting 41.0% from the field and 34.9% from three. Her 61 triples this season leads the team. Brueggemann is also one of Lindenwood's best free throw shooters going 50-55 from the foul line (90.0%).

Moving to the point guard position this season, Brueggemann has averaged 11.6 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 2.2 apg and 1.2 spg. She is only one of three Lions to start and play in all 29 games this season. On 18 different occasions this season, Brueggemann has scored in double-figures including a season-high 21 points vs. Western Illinois on Dec. 21.

Lindenwood's best three-point shot maker, she has made a three in all but two games this season while making multiple threes in 17 games. Against Southeast Missouri State, Brueggemann shot 6-9 from three-point range on her way to 19 points. An under-rated passer, Brueggemann has dished out at least three assists 12 times this season. She also becomes the first player from the Lindenwood women's basketball team to earn All-OVC First Team honors.

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.

Potential Opponents
Lindenwood could face three-teams in the OVC semifinals on Friday. On Wednesday at 3:30 p.m. CT, #6 UT Martin and #7 Western Illinois will battle in the first round of the tournament. The winner of that game will play #3 Eastern Illinois in the quarterfinals on Thursday. Lindenwood will play the winner between Eastern Illinois and UTM/WIU.

During the record season, Lindenwood swept the season series against UT Martin winning by six-points at home and three-points on the road. The Lions then split both series against Western Illinois and Eastern Illinois. Last week, LU played Western in Macomb, Ill. falling by a score of 75-70. In their last game against Eastern Illinois, the Lions picked up a home win by a final score of 57-55.

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
If Lindenwood advances after the semifinals, they would play in the Championship on Saturday, March. 8th at 3:00 p.m. CT on ESPN+. For more information go to lindenwoodlions.com.