Lindenwood Women’s Basketball Season Preview

Entering her second year as head coach, Amy Eagan aims to elevate the Lions women’s basketball team from the 2023-24 season, where they finished with a record of 7-21 and 5-13 in the OVC.

The Lions had several close games last season, losing eight by seven points or fewer, which they would have liked to reclaim. With continued development in the program, the team is becoming more familiar with their roles as the new season approaches. During the Ohio Valley Conference media day, Coach Eagan highlighted the increased competitiveness in practices this year, which she believes will positively impact their performance on the court. She emphasized that the team’s strength will lie in its depth and plans to adopt an aggressive style of play, aiming to press opponents and create discomfort throughout the season.

Ellie Brueggemann will lead the Lions after being named to the OVC All-Conference second team as a freshman last year. She enters her sophomore year having averaged 13.8 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.1 assists, with shooting percentages of 38% from the field, 34% from three-point range, and 92% from the free-throw line. Recently named a preseason OVC player to watch, Brueggemann had 22 games with double-digit scoring, including a season-high of 27 points against UT Martin. She is expected to be a key player for the Lions and a focal point in opponents’ scouting plans.

Brooke Coffey joins Lindenwood as another preseason OVC player to watch after spending her freshman year at Illinois State. A native of St. Charles, Coffey played in all 34 games for the Redbirds, averaging 3.3 points and 2.7 rebounds in 14.3 minutes. She recorded four games with double-digit points, including a personal best of 11 on three occasions. Coffey aims to build on her freshman experience and improve her performance to develop into a strong player for the Lions. Together, she and Brueggemann are expected to form a formidable duo that opponents will need to reckon with.

Mya Skoff is among the returning players for Lindenwood, having participated in all 28 games last season. The 5’10” guard averaged 6.6 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 1 assist, shooting 38% from the field, 31% from three-point range, and 75% from the free-throw line. She achieved a season-high of 16 points against Southern Indiana. Skoff, along with Brueggemann and Coffey, forms a strong trio of guards for Coach Eagan, allowing for versatile lineups to maximize efficiency on the court.

Mykayla Cunningham, another guard, aims to build on her solid freshman year at Lindenwood. She played in 27 games and started in four, averaging 7.6 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.3 assists, with a shooting percentage of 40% from the field, 14% from beyond the arc, and 54% from the free-throw line. Cunningham ranked second on the team in steals (46) and assists (62), boasting a career-high of 17 points against Eastern Illinois.

Mary McGrath, also returning, is known as one of Lindenwood’s top defenders. She played 25 games last season, starting in 12, and averaged 3.1 points, 2.1 rebounds, and a steal per game, with a season-high of 10 points against Tennessee Tech. McGrath will serve as a senior leader, providing energy and guidance for the team.

Justis Odom enters her second year with the Lions as a 6’2″ center, looking to anchor the frontcourt. Last season, she started in 25 of the 27 games she played, averaging 9.2 points and 4.1 rebounds, shooting 46% from the field and 73% from the free-throw line. Odom recorded a career-high of 24 points against Little Rock and will complement the talented guards on the team.

Alyssa Nielsen, standing at six feet tall, joins Odom in the frontcourt. She had a strong freshman season, appearing in 26 games (13 starts) and averaging 8.2 points and 3.5 rebounds, with a career-high of 18 points against Tennessee Tech. Nielsen led the team with a shooting percentage of 47% from the field, along with 24% from three and 75% from the free-throw line. Together with Odom, they are expected to create a formidable frontcourt capable of controlling the paint and contributing scoring.

Transfers Tiana Winn and Mariah Stewart will add depth to the frontcourt behind Odom and Nielsen. Winn comes from Butler Community College, where she averaged 6.3 points and 5.2 rebounds, playing in 33 games and starting in 21. She had eight double-digit games and two double-doubles, with a season-high of 16 points. Stewart transfers from the University of Louisiana, where she averaged 3.3 points and 2 rebounds over 44 games. Both players will enhance the team’s depth and push existing players to perform at their best.

Kiara Smith is the only freshman on the roster, having previously excelled as a two-sport athlete at Harding Charter Prep in Oklahoma City before transferring to Douglas High School.

The Lions face an exciting non-conference schedule, including games against the Kansas Jayhawks, Bradley University, the University of Missouri-Kansas City, Oral Roberts, and Nebraska. They will play nine non-conference games before starting their 20-game OVC schedule. Last year, Lindenwood had a home record of 6-7 and a road record of 1-14, and improving their road performance will be crucial to competing with the top teams in the OVC.

In the OVC preseason poll, Lindenwood women’s basketball is projected to finish 7th out of 11 teams, but they are seen as potential dark horses capable of exceeding expectations in Coach Eagan’s second year.

The season begins on November 6th with a game against the Jayhawks in Lawrence, Kansas, followed by their home opener on November 12th against Bradley University. Lindenwood will kick off OVC play on December 19th, hosting Tennessee Tech, who defeated them by 30 points last season.