Eastern Illinois University's Women's Basketball Team: A Season Preview
The 2025-26 college basketball season is fast approaching, and the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) has released its preseason rankings and players to watch. The Eastern Illinois Panthers have been ranked fifth in the OVC, with three different schools receiving first-place votes.
Last season, the Panthers had a strong showing, finishing with an overall record of 18-12 and 15-5 in the OVC. This season, they return key players like Lalani Ellis, Sydney-James Desroches, and Lyric Johnson. Ellis, the team's top scorer with 7.7 points per game, is joined by Desroches (6.7 ppg) and Johnson (2.4 ppg) in the starting lineup.
The Panthers have also bolstered their frontcourt with the addition of Meioshe Mason, a transfer from Middle Tennessee. Standing at 6'4", Mason will provide a strong presence alongside 6'10" Abbie Boutilier, a transfer from Texas, and 6'4" redshirt freshman Olivia Thostenson.
Additionally, the team welcomes back experienced players like senior guard Tiny Lewis, junior forward Ella Lune, and sophomore guards Alanna Phillipo and Adriana Arroyo. The Panthers have also added guards Ava Stoller from SIUE and Clara Glad from UC Davis through the transfer portal.
The season opener is set for Monday, November 3, when the Panthers host Drake for the annual Kids' Day Game. The OVC schedule begins at home on December 18, when Eastern Illinois will face SIUE at Groniger Arena.
The OVC Preseason Poll:
1. Lindenwood (6 first-place votes, 179 points)
2. Tennessee Tech (12 first-place votes, 175 points)
3. Western Illinois (4 first-place votes, 166 points)
4. Southern Indiana (147 points)
5. Eastern Illinois (121 points)
6. UT Martin (117 points)
7. Little Rock (110 points)
8. Tennessee State (78 points)
9. Southeast Missouri (51 points)
10. Morehead State (33 points)
11. SIUE (33 points)
The Panthers will look to build on their success from last season and make a strong showing in the OVC this year.
