** During the month of July, EIUPanthers.com will take a look back at 14 events or moments that helped shape the 2018-19 academic year. **

In a year of program turnarounds for Eastern Illinois athletics, the Panthers women's basketball team had one of the best program turnarounds in school history during the 2018-19 season under second year head coach Matt Bollant.

The Panthers would open the season with a 3-1 record matching the team's win total from the previous year in the first four games of the season.  With a relatively young team – seven underclassmen – EIU would finish the year with 11 wins.  It marked the third biggest program turnaround in program history with the plus eight win total for the year.

EIU posted its first double figure wins season since the 2014-15 campaign.  It was the highest win total for the Panthers since the 2013-14 season.  In addition to opening with three wins in their first four games, EIU won its OVC opener for the first time since the 2014-15 season.  In February of 2019, EIU won on the road at Austin Peay giving the Panthers their first road victory in two seasons.

Success during the season came from balanced play and good defense.  The Panthers finished the season ranked 41st in the NCAA in steals per game and 51st in the nation in turnovers forced.   EIU would have six different players lead the team in scoring during a game over the course the season with seven different Panthers leading the team in rebounding for a game.  

EIU would win the OVC Sportsmanship Award for women's basketball following the season.