Eastern women’s basketball team will face its second NAIA affiliated team as the Panthers host Robert Morris College Tuesday night at Lantz Arena.

The Eagles (1-9) are another undersized small school similar to Northwest-Indiana, Eastern’s opening night opponent.

The Panthers disposed of NAIA Indiana-Northwest 126-36 in convincing fashion on Nov. 21.

With the frontcourt of freshman Meagan Scaggs and junior center Pam O’Connor, the Panthers will look to dominate down low in the post. Robert Morris will not start anybody over six-feet tall, which makes Eastern’s head coach Linda Wunder confident in her players ability on the boards.

“We have a size advantage, so we will look down court and get the easy baskets,” Wunder said. “If we miss the first shot, we have to get those second and third shots on the boards.”

Eastern (1-2) is expected to be pressed on offense because of its size advantage, Wunder said

“They will get after us defensively because of the lack of height,” Wunder said. “Our young guards will get a workout on how to handle the pressure.”

Eastern had trouble handling the ball in their first two losses in which they committed over 20 turnovers each game. Wunder said the two freshman point guards, Megan Casad and Melanie Ploger, are still getting used to the pace of college basketball.

“It’s a different game than high school because they are playing against kids bigger, stronger and faster,” Wunder said.

Eastern will also be looking to get the ball to Connor down low, who has averaged 17 points and four rebounds a game since returning after a back injury kept her out last year. O’Connor will have to make adjustments because teams are finding better ways to defend her, Wunder said.

Senior guard Lauren Dailey will return to the lineup after sitting out with a sprained ankle in the loss to Loyola. Dailey is averaging 12 points and five rebounds a game.

“I think Pam, Lauren and Megan(Sparks) have scored consistently for us, but they need to continue to play defense,” Wunder said.

Sparks has averaged 15 points in their first three games.

Robert Morris is led by first-year head coach E.C. Hill. Hill played her college ball at Northern Illinois and professionally in Europe for five years before being signed by the WBNA’s Orlando Miracle.

Eastern has gone 2-20 in the last two years of non-conference play. However, Wunder feels that luck may change if the Panthers can successfully defend Lantz Arena.

“We have to take advantage of our home court,” Wunder said. “One of our goals is to protect this house.”