| Women: | yes |
| Current: | 2023–24 Eastern Illinois Panthers women's basketball team |
| Eastern Illinois Panthers women's basketball | |
| University: | Eastern Illinois University |
| Conference: | Ohio Valley Conference |
| Location: | Charleston, Illinois |
| Athletic Director: | Tom Michael |
| Coach: | Marqus McGlothan (interim) |
| Arena: | Lantz Arena |
| Capacity: | 5,300 |
| Nickname: | Panthers |
| Aiaweliteeight: | Division II: 1981 |
| Aiawtourneys: | Division II: 1981 |
| Ncaatourneys: | 1988 |
| Conference Tournament: | Gateway 1988 |
| Conference Season: | Gateway 1988 |
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.[1]
Prior to joining the OVC in 1996, Eastern Illinois had won the Gateway Conference tournament in 1988, where they reached what is so far their only NCAA Tournament appearance, which they lost 78–72 at home against Colorado. 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.[2] [3]
| 1973–74[4] | Helen Riley | 10–9 | — | — | — |
| 1974–75 | Helen Riley | 7–13 | — | — | — |
| 1975–76 | Helen Riley | 9–10 | — | — | — |
| 1976–77 | Melinda Fischer | 14–7 | — | — | — |
| 1977–78 | Melinda Fischer | 8–11 | — | — | — |
| 1978–79 | Melinda Fischer | 15–11 | — | — | — |
| 1979–80 | Barbara Hilke | 20–10 | — | — | — |
| 1980–81 | Barbara Hilke | 25–8 | — | — | AIAW Division II Quarterfinals |
| 1981–82 | Barbara Hilke | 22–11 | — | — | — |
| Gateway Collegiate Athletic Conference | |||||
| 1982–83 | Barbara Hilke | 22–7 | 2–3 | — | |
| 1983–84 | Barbara Hilke | 16–12 | 10–8 | 5th of 10 | — |
| 1984–85 | Barbara Hilke | 16–12 | 8–10 | 5th of 10 | — |
| 1985–86 | Barbara Hilke | 18–10 | 10–8 | 5th of 10 | — |
| 1986–87 | Barbara Hilke | 17–13 | 11–7 | 3rd of 10 | — |
| 1987–88 | Barbara Hilke | 22–8 | 14–4 | 1st of 10 | NCAA first round |
| 1988–89 | Barbara Hilke | 16–12 | 11–7 | 4th of 10 | — |
| 1989–90 | Barbara Hilke | 15–12 | 11–7 | 5th of 10 | — |
| 1990–91 | Barbara Hilke | 14–13 | 9–9 | T-5th of 10 | — |
| 1991–92 | Barbara Hilke | 8–19 | 4–14 | 9th of 10 | — |
| 1992–93 | Barbara Hilke | 3–24 | 2–14 | 8th of 9 | — |
| 1993–94 | John Klein | 5–21 | 3–15 | T-9th of 10 | — |
| 1994–95 | John Klein | 16–12 | 10–8 | 5th of 10 | — |
| 1995–96 | John Klein | 12–15 | 9–9 | T-6th of 10 | — |
| Ohio Valley Conference | |||||
| 1996–97 | John Klein | 12–15 | 8–10 | 5th of 10 | — |
| 1997–98 | John Klein | 12–15 | 10–8 | 5th of 10 | — |
| 1998–99 | John Klein | 5–21 | 3–15 | T-9th of 10 | |
| 1999–00 | Linda Wunder | 8–19 | 6–12 | T-8th of 10 | — |
| 2000–01 | Linda Wunder | 7–20 | 3–13 | 9th of 9 | — |
| 2001–02 | Linda Wunder | 7–21 | 6–10 | T-6th of 9 | — |
| 2002–03 | Linda Wunder | 6–22 | 5–11 | 7th of 9 | — |
| 2003–04 | Linda Wunder | 8–19 | 5–11 | 9th of 11 | — |
| 2004–05 | Brady Sallee | 10–17 | 3–13 | 10th of 11 | — |
| 2005–06 | Brady Sallee | 10–19 | 9–11 | 7th of 11 | — |
| 2006–07 | Brady Sallee | 10–19 | 7–13 | 9th of 11 | — |
| 2007–08 | Brady Sallee | 19–13 | 15–5 | T-2nd of 11 | — |
| 2008–09 | Brady Sallee | 24–9 | 15–3 | 2nd of 10 | — |
| 2009–10 | Brady Sallee | 23–11 | 16–2 | 1st of 10 | WNIT 1st Round |
| 2010–11 | Brady Sallee | 18–13 | 13–5 | T-3rd of 10 | WBI 1st Round |
| 2011–12 | Brady Sallee | 22–9 | 13–3 | 2nd of 11 | WNIT 1st Round |
| 2012–13 | Lee Buchanan | 20–12 | 12–4 | 1st West | WNIT 2nd Round |
| 2013–14 | Debbie Black | 12–16 | 7–9 | T-2nd West | — |
| 2014–15 | Debbie Black | 10–20 | 7–9 | T-7th of 12 | — |
| 2015–16 | Debbie Black | 3–25 | 2–14 | 12th of 12 | — |
| 2016–17 | Debbie Black | 9–19 | 5–11 | 12th of 12 | — |
| 2017–18 | Matt Bollant | 3–26 | 2–16 | 12th of 12 | — |
| 2018–19 | Matt Bollant | 11–18 | 5–13 | T-10th of 12 | — |
| 2019–20 | Matt Bollant | 19–12 | 12–6 | 4th of 12 | — |
| 2020–21 | Matt Bollant | 11–15 | 9–11 | 8th of 12 | — |
| 2021–22 | Matt Bollant | 16–14 | 11–7 | T-4th of 10 | — |
| 2022–23 | Matt Bollant | 21–8 | 14–4 | 2nd of 10 | — |
| Totals | 9 Coaches 50 Years | 6 Postseason Appearances | |||
The Panthers have appeared in the NCAA Division I Tournament one time. Their record is 0–1.
| First Round |
| L 78–72 |
The Panthers have appeared in the Women's National Invitation Tournament (WNIT) three times. Their record is 1–3.
| First Round | Marquette | L 56–85 | ||
| First Round | Texas Tech | L 71–85 | ||
| First Round Second Round | Missouri Illinois | W 60–58 L 54–62 |
The Panthers have appeared in the Women's Basketball Invitational (WBI) once. Their record is 0–1.
| First Round | Chicago State | L 64–73 |
The Panthers made one appearance in the AIAW National Division II basketball tournament, with a record of 1–1.
| 1981 | First Round Quarterfinals | Colorado College William Penn | W, 77–69 L, 73–53 |