The male Panther of the Semester is going to NaKyel Shelton from the men’s basketball team.
The senior guard from Chicago started in 28 games for the Panthers throughout the 2024-2025 season.
Shelton recorded a career-high 38 points against Morehead State, making it the highest point total from a player in a singular game since February 2004.
Shelton recorded nine games where he recorded 20 or more points.
Throughout the season, Shelton averaged 17 points and 4.6 rebounds a game, ending with a season total of 493 points and 134 rebounds. Shelton was named OVC Player of the Week for the final week of the regular season after a 25 point game against Little Rock and a 28 point game against Southeast Missouri State.
Along with OVC Player of the Week, Shelton was also named the Lou Henson National Player of the Week.
After the regular season, Shelton was named part of the 2024-2025 All-Ohio Valley Conference First Team.
The female Panther of the Semester is going to Macy McGlone from the women’s basketball team.
The senior forward from Greenville, Wisconsin, won her second straight OVC Player of the Year award at the end of the regular season. McGlone is the tenth person in conference history to win back to back Player of the Year awards.
McGlone was also named part of the 2024-2025 All-OVC First Team.
Throughout the 2024-2025 season, McGlone started all 30 games, averaging 17.9 points, 11.7 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game. McGlone ranked in sixth place in the NCAA in rebounds per game and 11th for double-doubles (18).
McGlone was named OVC Player of the Week six times during the regular season.
McGlone wrote her name in Eastern’s record books with 350 total rebounds (third), 58 blocks (third), 18 double-doubles (third) and 536 points (sixth). McGlone recorded 1,000 points at Eastern, making her the fourth Panther in program history to do so.
The coach of the Semester is going to Marqus McGlothan from the women’s basketball team.
McGlothan, the former assistant women’s basketball coach, served as the interim head coach for the 2024-2025 season.
Under McGlothan, the women’s basketball team recorded a 18-12 overall record and a 15-5 conference record. The team also went undefeated at home for the first time since the 1980-1981.
Eastern also made it to the OVC Tournament as a three seed.
On March 14, McGlothan was named the head coach, taking the interim tag off his role.
Zaria Flippin can be reached at 581-2812 or at zhflippin@eiu.edu.
![[Thumbnail Edition] Senior Foward Macy McGlone, getsw the ball and gets the point during the first half of the game aginst Western Illinois University,, Eastern Illinois University Lost to Western Illinois University Thursday March 6 20205, 78-75 EIU lost making it the end of their season](https://www.dailyeasternnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/WBB_OVC_03_O-1-e1743361637111-1200x614.jpg)
