Game # 23 & 24
Western Illinois (19-4, 11-3 OVC) vs Eastern Illinois (4-21, 3-11 OVC) | Little Rock (12-12, 8-6 OVC)
Match Information:
Date: Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026 | Thursday Feb. 12, 2026
Location: Macomb, IL
Venue: Western Hall
Tip-Off: 5 p.m. CT | 5 p.m. CT
Last Meeting: Jan. 13, 2026, W 74-61 | Jan. 17, 2026, W 75-59
Live Stats: Stats
Live Video: Watch | Watch
Matchup
The Western Illinois women's basketball team come home to face the Eastern Illinois Panthers and the Little Rock Trojans. The Leathernecks are 18-3 this season and 10-2 conference. Western Illinois is in its third year in the Ohio Valley Conference.
Last Time Out
Western Illinois women's basketball is coming off a 87–77 road loss at Tennessee State. The Leathernecks were paced by a dominant performance from Mia Nicastro, who poured in 33 points on 13-of-22 shooting, while Madison Davis added 21 points and seven rebounds. WIU shot nearly 50 percent from the field and finished strong with 26 fourth-quarter points, but a 28-point third quarter from the Tigers proved to be the difference as Tennessee State used a key run out of halftime to take control.
Scouting the Panthers
The Eastern Illinois Panthers women's basketball team enters the 2025-26 season under second-year head coach Marqus McGlothan with a roster that blends new faces from the transfer portal and returning contributors as they vie for Ohio Valley Conference relevance. EIU's non-conference slate features challenging road games at Power-Five programs like Purdue and Michigan State, as well as a home opener against Drake that will test their early chemistry. The Panthers return perimeter scoring from guard Lalani Ellis and feature Ava Stoller as a primary offensive creator, while newcomers like Meioshe Mason and Abbie Boutilier bring size and interior presence to a frontcourt that must improve rebounding and scoring consistency in OVC play. Defensively, EIU has shown physical, pressure-oriented traits that can disrupt opponents, but offensive efficiency and ball security remain areas of emphasis as they work to replace significant production lost to graduation.
Scouting the Trojans
The Little Rock Trojans women's basketball team enters the 2025-26 season under second-year head coach Steve Wiedower, competing in the Ohio Valley Conference with a schedule that mixes tough non-conference tests and key league battles at the Jack Stephens Center. They return a veteran-led core anchored by senior guard Jordan Holman, the team's leading scorer and rebounder who also sets the tone defensively with steals and blocks, making her one of the toughest matchups on the perimeter. Supporting Holman are scoring options like Brenna Burk and Mya Cotto, while floor general Alaina Payne orchestrates the offense and keeps the Trojans disciplined in transition. Little Rock's roster features a balance of experience and size with forwards such as Taelor Coxford, Pearson McVay and Destinee Salgado providing depth and versatility in the frontcourt. The Trojans emphasize physical defense and pressure that can force turnovers and generate transition opportunities; a formula that helped them grind out tight wins in OVC play, including a 48-45 victory where turnovers and free throws proved decisive. With a non-conference slate that includes Memphis, Arizona State and Arkansas, Little Rock seeks to build early cohesion and sharpen its rotation before heading into the heart of league competition and a push toward postseason positioning.
Up Next
The Leathernecks will continue their host stretch by bringing USI and Morehead. For more information, go to https://goleathernecks.com/sports/womens-basketball/schedule.
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