Coming off a disappointing 6-22 season that included a 1-12 start, the Eastern women’s basketball team appears refreshed and ready to open the new season.

“We’re pretty optimistic about the season this year,” head coach Linda Wunder said. “We’re excited to get going.”

The Panthers will start the season with an exhibition game against the Premier All-Stars on Nov. 16, and will play their first official game on Nov. 21 against Indiana-Northwest.

Earlier this week, the Ohio Valley Conference announced its rankings for the upcoming season. Eastern received 100 points which put them just ahead of Tennessee-Martin (98 points) for sixth place. Southeast Missouri (188 points, 10 first-place votes) edged out defending champion Austin Peay (182, nine first-place votes) for the top spot in the poll. Eastern Kentucky with 167 points placed third, followed by Tennessee Tech (147 points) and Morehead State (106).

Despite being picked to finish in the middle of the pack, Wunder said she won’t let the ranking affect her or the team.

“Polls are polls,” Wunder said. “They’re based mainly on paper and a lot of the people (who vote in the polls) don’t know everything about the team.”

One major improvement for the Panthers this season will be a healthy Pam O’Connor. In 2002, the junior center was selected to the Second Team All-OVC squad, but a year long knee injury kept O’Connor off the court and forced her to red-shirt for medical reasons.

Although not on the All-OVC team this year, Wunder said O’Connor has looked like her old self in practices preparing for the upcoming season.

“Pam’s looked very good and hasn’t missed a beat,” Wunder said. “She looks a lot like she did two years ago before the injury.”

As for O’Connor not being picked to any preseason teams, Wunder didn’t seem to surprised her star was omitted.

“When you’re not around, people seem to forget about you, so I’m not totally surprised that she was left off (the preseason teams),” Wunder said.

While O’Connor was not selected to the All-OVC team, the Panthers still have one player receiving recognition. Senior guard Lauren Dailey was voted to the Second Team Preseason All-OVC. Last year Dailey averaged 11.5 points and converted 40 three-point field goals in 28 games.

“We feel very fortunate to have Lauren on that team,” Wunder said. “Lauren really proved herself last season. With Pam (O’Connor) out, Lauren took on a leadership and scoring roll for us, and teams were constantly trying to shut her down.”

Joining O’Connor and Dailey on the offensive attack is sophomore guard Megan Sparks. The West Frankfort native lit up the scoreboard many nights last season averaging over 11 points and a three-point field goal per game. Sparks pulled down 128 rebounds last season which placed her second behind departing senior Brooke Gossett for the team lead, but this season Sparks’ value will come on the offensive side.

“Sparks has looked very good this year,” Wunder said. “Along with Lauren and Pam she gives us three serious scoring threats.”