The Panthers, who have struggled for what seems like the entire season, finally have the opportunity to push for a winning streak.

Entering their last game, the Panthers (9-20) will try for their fourth win in five games against Southeast Missouri State (17-13) Friday.

The team will have their hands full will with SEMO as the team heads to Cape Girardeau, Mo. The Otahkians handed Eastern a 3-1 defeat earlier this season at the Panthers’ home court in Lantz Arena. Thus, it will be a major test for the young team to finish its season with a victory against SEMO.

“It will be important to win this game; it was a close match last time, and I know its something we can do,” head coach Brenda Winkeler said. “It would be good to get double digits in the win column and to end with a win going into the spring season.”

Winkeler attributes Eastern’s tough season to the large amount of younger players on her team. With only three seniors and one junior, the team has had to rely on their younger players being able to handle the large responsibility placed on their shoulders. The reason this happened is that Eastern hardly brought in any recruits during a two year period, due to the change in coaching.

“We were missing two recruiting classes when I got here,” said Winkeler who was hired in January of 2000. “There was only one player from the recruiting season before I got here and when I was hired it was already February before I started. Thus, the team did not get many players for that recruiting season either.”

But now, Eastern’s recruiting classes are starting to pay dividends as the younger players are finally growing into their roles. Players such as sophomore Shanna Ruxer and freshmen Megan Kennedy have both played solid roles for the Panthers this season.

“Optimism with a group of freshmen we have now and the recruiting class coming in is high for the team,” said Winkeler. “But we have to focus now, because it would be nice to finish the season with a win against SEMO.”