Tweet #EIUBleedBlue

Eastern Illinois Athletics wrapped up its 20th year as a member of the Ohio Valley Conference in May.  As a way to celebrate the many accomplishments, both team and individual during that time period, EIU conducted an online poll during the month of May for fans to help select the Top 20 athletes of the Panthers OVC Era.  During the month of June we will unveil the top 20 athletes as selected by the more than 2,500 fan votes submitted.  The original list of 40 athletes was comprised by a committee looking at a variety of criteria including Player of the Year, All-American selection and multiple time first-team All-OVC honors.  
 
#16 Rachel Galligan (W Basketball / 2006-09)
 
Galligan helped lift the EIU women's basketball program to the upper levels of the Ohio Valley Conference during her playing days from 2006-09.   In her first season she was named the OVC Freshman of the Year before earning first team All-OVC honors her final three years in a Panther uniform.  As a junior she helped carry EIU to the OVC Tournament Championship game and then led EIU back to the title contest as a senior.  Galligan scored 24 points in her final collegiate game going 12-of-15 from the floor to earn All-OVC Tournament honors.   She finished her career ranking first on the EIU career scoring list with 1,891 points, a total that currently ranks second all-time at EIU.  Galligan ranks first on the EIU career list for blocked shots with 185 and is fifth all-time with 794 rebounds.  In addition to her success on the hardwood, Galligan earned first team All-OVC honors in track winning the javelin as a junior and advancing to the NCAA Regional.  She ranks fifth on the EIU career track list for the javelin throw with a mark of 137'2".
 
Galligan was inducted into the EIU Athletic Hall of Fame in 2014.  She currently works as an executive for a national basketball recruiting service based in Colorado. 

EIU OVC Era Top 20 Countdown
#20 - Meleah Cutler (Volleyball / 1996-99)
#19 - Sean Lyons (Baseball / 1996-99)
#18 – Rick Kaye (Men's Basketball / 1995-98)
#17 – Jade Riebold (W Track / 2012-14)