The Eastern women’s basketball team will open the season tonight with a game against St. Francis (Joliet) in Lantz Arena.

Although this is his first regular season game as a head coach, Brady Sallee said the first game jitters haven’t gotten to him yet.

“We’ve been so caught up in our regular day-to-day mode that I haven’t really focused on that too much,” Sallee said.

The Lady Saints (0-3) are led by junior guard Kelly Pero. Pero is averaging 10.7 points per game and is shooting 46 percent from the field.

“They like to play a post-to-wing game,” Sallee said. “They like to get it inside, and they have a girl (Pero) that can really shoot it.”

The Panthers will continue to focus on improving their defense, and Sallee is looking for the guards to continue to set the tone for the rest of the team.

“(Megan) Sparks must continue to be aggressive and be our leader out there,” Sallee said. “We need her to continue to bring energy and intensity to the table along with Sarah Riva. We also are going to need our point guards to step up and be more consistent.”

According to Sallee, senior Pam O’Connor, last season’s leading scorer, is going to be a game-time decision following off-season knee surgery.

“Pam started practicing earlier this week and is progressing nicely,” he said. “We won’t make a decision on her status until closer to game-time.”

Sallee doesn’t see much of a drop off in production in O’Connor’s absence because of the play of his other post players.

“Janelle Cazy and Meagan Scaggs have really benefited from Pam not being around,” Sallee said. “We are running the same system as we would if Pam were in there, and they have really done a good job of filling in.”

Sallee said it is important for his team to focus on itself in these early games.

“In order for us to do what we want to do, we must focus on ourselves as a team and get ourselves in order,” he said. The game is Friday at 5:15 p.m. in Lantz Arena.