The Eastern Illinois Panthers women's basketball team is the basketball team that represents Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, Illinois, United States. The school's team currently competes in the Ohio Valley Conference.

History Eastern Illinois began play in 1973, and for the first several years, they would play in AIAW Tournaments that ranged from the state DII State Tournament to the Midwest AIAW DII Regional Tournament. The 1980-81 team won 25 games and made it all the way to the AIAW DII Nationals in the round of eight. The team joined the Gateway Collegiate Athletic Conference in 1982. They reached the Gateway Tournament final in 1987 and 1988. Eastern Illinois won the Gateway Conference tournament in 1988, defeating Illinois State 80-79 to reach their first NCAA Tournament. They lost 78–72 in Charleston, Illinois against Colorado in the NCAA Division Tournament. In 1992, when the conference merged with the Missouri Valley Conference, the women's team joined the men in being a part of the Mid-Continent Conference. They left the conference to join the Ohio Valley Conference in 1996. They have made the WNIT in 2010 and 2013. As of the end of the 2015–16 season, the Panthers have an all-time record of 576–645.

Season Results 1973–74Helen Riley10–9 — — —1974–75Helen Riley7–13 — — —1975–76Helen Riley 9–10 — — —1976–77Melinda Fischer14–7 — — —1977–78Melinda Fischer8–11 — — —1978–79Melinda Fischer15–11 — — —1979–80Barbara Hilke 20–10 — — —1980–81Barbara Hilke 25–8 — — AIAW Division II Quarterfinals1981–82Barbara Hilke 22–11 — — — Gateway Collegiate Athletic Conference1982–83Barbara Hilke 22–72–3 —1983–84Barbara Hilke 16–1210–85th of 10 —1984–85Barbara Hilke 16–128–105th of 10 —1985–86Barbara Hilke 18–1010–85th of 10 —1986–87Barbara Hilke 17–1311–73rd of 10 —1987–88Barbara Hilke 22–814–41st of 10NCAA first round1988–89Barbara Hilke 16–1211–74th of 10 —1989–90Barbara Hilke 15–1211–75th of 10 —1990–91Barbara Hilke 14–139–9T-5th of 10 —1991–92Barbara Hilke 8–194–149th of 10 — Mid-Continent Conference1992–93Barbara Hilke 3–242–148th of 9 —1993–94John Klein5–213–15T-9th of 10 —1994–95John Klein16–1210–85th of 10 —1995–96John Klein12–159–9T-6th of 10 — Ohio Valley Conference1996–97John Klein12–158–105th of 10 —1997–98John Klein12–1510–85th of 10 —1998–99John Klein5–213–15T-9th of 101999–00Linda Wunder8–196–12T-8th of 10 —2000–01Linda Wunder7–203–139th of 9 —2001–02Linda Wunder7–216–10T-6th of 9 —2002–03Linda Wunder6–225–117th of 9 —2003–04Linda Wunder8–195–119th of 11 —2004–05Brady Sallee10–173–1310th of 11 —2005–06Brady Sallee10–199–117th of 11 —2006–07Brady Sallee10–197–139th of 11 —2007–08Brady Sallee19–1315–5T-2nd of 11 —2008–09Brady Sallee24–915–32nd of 10 —2009–10Brady Sallee23–1116–21st of 10WNIT 1st Round2010–11Brady Sallee18–1313–5T-3rd of 10WBI 1st Round2011–12Brady Sallee22–913–32nd of 11WNIT 1st Round2012–13Lee Buchanan20–1212–41st WestWNIT 2nd Round2013–14Debbie Black12–167–9T-2nd West —2014–15Debbie Black10–207–9T-7th of 12 —2015–16Debbie Black3–252–1412th of 12 —2016–17Debbie Black9–195–1112th of 12 —2017–18Matt Bollant3–262–1612th of 12 —2018–19Matt Bollant11–185–13T-10th of 12 —2019–20Matt Bollant19–1212–64th of 12 —2020–21Matt Bollant11–159–118th of 12 —2021–22Matt Bollant16–1411–7T-4th of 10 —2022–23Matt Bollant21–814–42nd of 10 —2023–24Matt Bollant15–1811–7T-2nd of 11 —2024–25Marqus McGlothan18–1215–53rd of 11 —Totals9 Coaches50 Years6 Postseason Appearances

Postseason

NCAA Division I The Panthers have appeared in the NCAA Division I Tournament one time. Their record is 0–1.

1988 #10 First Round #7 Colorado L 78–72

WNIT results The Panthers have appeared in the Women's National Invitation Tournament (WNIT) three times. Their record is 1–3.

2010 First Round Marquette L 56–85 2012 First Round Texas Tech L 71–85 2013 First RoundSecond Round MissouriIllinois W 60–58L 54–62

WBI results The Panthers have appeared in the Women's Basketball Invitational (WBI) once. Their record is 0–1.

2011 First Round Chicago State L 64–73

AIAW College Division/Division II The Panthers made one appearance in the AIAW National Division II basketball tournament, with a record of 1–1.

1981 First RoundQuarterfinals Colorado CollegeWilliam Penn W, 77–69L, 73–53

Retired Numbers 13 Nancy Kassebaum G 1979–83 February 24, 2005

References

External links