Game 18
Southeast Missouri (4-13, 2-6 OVC) at Lindenwood (10-7, 6-2 OVC) 
 
Game Information: 
Date: Thursday, January 23, 2025
Time: 5:00 p.m., CT. 
Location: St. Charles, Mo. 
Venue: Hyland Arena
Series: SEMO leads 4-1
 
Head Coaches: 
SEMO: Briley Palmer (4-13, 2-6 OVC | First Season)
LU: Amy Eagan (17-28, 11-15 OVC | Second Season)
 
Follow the Redhawks: 
X: @OfficialSEMOWBB
Live Stats: LindenwoodLions.com
Watch: ESPN+
Listen: Real Rock 99.3 FM (Erik Sean)
 
Game Notes (PDF)
Media Guide (PDF) 
 
Redhawks Return to the Road for Thursday Clash at Lindenwood
Southeast Missouri Women's Basketball (4-13, 2-6 OVC) will take on in-state rival Lindenwood (10-7, 6-2 OVC) on Thursday, January 23, from St. Charles, Missouri. Tip-off is set for 5:00 p.m., CT. at Hyland Arena. 
 
Series History
The Redhawks and Lions will meet for just the sixth time on Thursday evening and just the fifth time with both programs being NCAA Division I institutions. SEMO is 4-1 all-time against Lindenwood and 3-1 since LU joined the Ohio Valley Conference in 2022. A season ago, the teams split the regular season series as both SEMO & LU won at home. SEMO last won in St. Charles on February 23, 2023, with a 67-62 victory. 
 
Freshman of the Week
Center Ainaya Williams of Southeast Missouri Women's Basketball was voted Ohio Valley Conference 'Freshman of the Week', the league announced Tuesday morning. A 6-1 freshman from St. Louis, Missouri, Williams dominated against Tennessee Tech last Thursday evening to the tune of 22 points and nine rebounds. Her 22 points set a new career-high and marked her first game north of 20-points all season. Against Little Rock, Williams recorded seven points and six rebounds while making her fourth-straight start. Over the course of two games, Ainaya shot 10-16 from the field (62.5%) in 46:17 of game time. She shot an impressive 9-12 at the free throw line (75%) including an 8-10 performance against Tennessee Tech. Williams averaged 14.5 points-per-game last week and 7.5 rebounds-per-game. She recorded one block and two steals, both coming against the Golden Eagles. 
 
For Williams, the award is the first of the season for her.
 
Last Time Out
The Redhawks were last in action last Thursday night at Tennessee Tech falling to the Golden Eagles by a final score of 79-66 behind career nights from Ainaya Williams and Lexi McCully. 
 
Williams finished with a career-high 22 points on 7-12 shooting from the floor to lead the Redhawks in scoring. The game was the first of Williams' career with 20-plus points in a contest. McCully scored 21 points for her new career-high on 7-19 shooting and was an impressive 5-6 from the charity stripe. 
 
As a team, SEMO missed just three free throws all night shooting 16-19 from the line as a team. Ainaya Williams was an impressive 8-10 at the stripe, followed by McCully (5-6), and Skylar Barnes (3-3). 
 
The Redhawks shot 40-percent from the floor (24-59) but were just 2-14 from behind the three-point line (14-percent).
 
Full 40
Senior guard Lexi McCully played the full 40-minutes last Thursday at Tennessee Tech for the first time all season. Her previous high was back on November 25 when she played 35 minutes against Southern Illinois. McCully scored 21 points against TTU and is now averaging 8.6 points-per-game. It also marked the first game she has started since December 16 versus Missouri State. 
 
Up to Seven
The Redhawks have been increasing their scoring offense as a team throughout the season and now sit in seventh place in the OVC in scoring. SEMO is currently averaging 64.1 points-per-game, just two points less than sixth place UT Martin (66.1). Southern Indiana is the top scoring offense in the league, averaging 74.2 PPG. 
 
Splash
As a team, SEMO has been great from three-point range ranking second in the OVC in three-point field goals made. The Redhawks have made 116 three pointers this season, averaging 6.8 per game. SEMO also ranks sixth in the OVC in three-point percentage with a 30.9-percent mark from deep. 
 
Quick Hands
Guard Indiya Bowen has made an impact on the defensive end of the floor, leading the Redhawks in steals and ranks third in the OVC for the category. Bowen has 33 steals on the season in 15 games played for a 2.2 steals-per-game average. She currently ranks 104^th in steals-per-game in Division I women's basketball. 
 
Against the Three
The Redhawks defense has done a good job against their opponents from three-point range as SEMO ranks third in the OVC. In 17 games, SEMO has allowed just 90 three pointers for their opponents with them shooting just 28.9-percent from deep.  As a team, SEMO ranks 100^th in the nation in three-point defense. 
 
Scouting the Opponent
Lindenwood
The Lions come into the matchup on Thursday night with an overall record of 10-7 and tied for second in the OVC with a 6-2 conference mark. LU is led by second year head coach Amy Eagan. 
 
Ellie Brueggemann leads the Lions offense in scoring having scored 202 points in 17 games this season. She currently averages 11.9 points-per-game for a squad that is averaging 66.9 PPG. 
 
OVC Newcomer of the Week Gracy Wernli is second on the team with 10.8 points-per-game, scoring 183 points this season. As a team, LU is shooting 42.1-percent from the field, 31.7-percent from three, and 74.1-percent at the foul line. 
 
On the glass, Brooke Coffey leads the Lions in rebounding with 6.6 RPG. She has hauled in 112 rebounds on the season, including 18 offensive rebounds and 94 defensive rebounds. Justis Odom follows behind with 5.1 RPG.