The Eastern women’s basketball season will begin its season against some competition that is from half a world away.

The Panthers will play host to RTU Klondaika, a team from Latvia at 7 p.m. tonight in Lantz Arena.

Eastern has two starters and seven returning players from last year’s squad that went 7-20 and 3-13 in the Ohio Valley Conference. The Panthers were picked to finish ninth in the league.

Four-time defending league champion Tennessee Tech was picked to finish first in the preseason poll of coaches and sports information directors from the league.

“On paper that’s about right,” said third-year head women’s basketball coach Linda Wunder. “We lost four seniors; three were starters. We also have nine underclassmen. I just hope our team is willing to make the commitment so we don’t end up finishing (in ninth).”

Sophomore center Pam O’Connor, an all-freshman team member last season was voted to the preseason all-conference second team. She set the Eastern freshman record for points scored (357), field goals (143) and points per game (13.2).

Sophomore Lauren Daily is the other returning starter for the Panthers.

“We are a young team,” Wunder said. “We’re looking to be able to blend all of the positives that we have from all of the younger players together.”

The players are using the coaches’ poll as a motivational tool.

“It only inspires us more,” O’Connor said. “We’re out to prove some people wrong.”

The Panthers must first prove themselves against IUPU-Indianapolis, their first game of the season, which will be Nov. 16. Until then, Eastern will get a chance to take a look at the talent it has with a series of exhibition games, starting with RTU Klondaika.

” It gives us a chance to evaluate the players and see where we’re out,” said Wunder. “I’m glad we’re not playing a game that counts, because we’re not ready yet.”

Eastern will look for leadership from juniors Brooke Gossett, Emily Dowell and Kayla Bloemer. Wunder also expects 6-foot-2 center Allison Collins to make plenty of contributions after she sat out last season.

The Panthers have plenty of new faces on the squad and one in the coaching staff. Assistant coach Joe Conroy will begin his first season under Wunder. He said he’s ready for the challenge.

“I’ve really been looking foward to it,” Conroy said. “We’ve done a lot of good work so far and I’m anxious to see how well they perform.”

While all the battles for playing time amongst the underclassman are helpful, Wunder said it’s game experience that will ultimately help her squad.

“Game time is the best experience you can get,” said Wunder. “And that’s just what all of our younger players need.”