Eastern Illinois women's basketball will play a pair of open exhibitions prior to the start of the 2025-26 season.  The Panthers open those two contests this Thursday, Oct. 23 hosting Illinois Wesleyan at 6 p.m.  (admission is free).
 
The second exhibition will be on the road as the Panthers play on Tuesday, Oct. 28 at UIC with a 6:30 pm start.   The regular season opens at home on Monday, Nov. 3 as EIU hosts Drake in the Kid's Day game at 12 pm at Groniger Arena.
 
EIU was picked to finish fifth in the OVC preseason poll released last week at the conference basketball media day in Evansville.  Lalani Ellis and Meoishe Mason were named as EIU preseason players to watch this year.
 
The Panthers return two starters from last year in Lalani Ellis (7.7 ppg) and Sydney-James Desroches (6.7 ppg).  A total of seven letterwinners from last year's 18-win team do return.
 
EIU did add size during the offseason via the transfer portal with Mason a 6'4" transfer from Middle Tennessee and Abbie Boutilier, a 6'10" center from Texas.  Couple those with returning redshirt freshman Olivia Thostenson (6'3") and EIU may have on the biggest front lines in the NCAA this season.
 
EIU's schedule this season includes games at preseason Top 25 programs #23 Michigan State (Nov. 20) and #20 Louisville (No. 28) along with a home non-conference game with North Dakota State (Dec. 11).
 
The OVC schedule opens at home for EIU hosting SIUE on December 18.  This year's OVC Tournament returns to the Ford Center in Evansville on March 4-7.