The Eastern women’s basketball team will open up its season at home in Lantz Arena for the first time since 2011.

The Panthers will be going up against a different looking Missouri-Kansas City team, on Saturday, than they faced a year ago.

Along with Kansas City, the Panthers will be starting one, possibly two freshmen.

Grace Lennox is one of the freshmen that is a probable starter and said there are some nerves heading into her first college game.

“I feel that me and my team are well-prepared for it,” she said. “Therefore, my nerves would be more of excitement rather than anxiety.”

Lennox does have some high-level playing experience as she played in a semi-professional league in Australia a year and a half before she left for college.

The Panthers are going to have to find players that are going to score the basketball as they lost one of their leading scorers from last season in Kaitlyn Payne.

Senior, Sabina Oroszova returns for her final season at Eastern as was the Panthers leading scorer last season.

She started all 28 games last season and averaged 16.9 points per game.

Oroszova said she is just ready for the season to get underway.

“Everything about basketball season is exciting,” she said. “Since this is my last season here at EIU, I want to take the season day by day. I am excited about home games, spending time with my teammates on the road trips, wins and any adversity that is waiting on us out there.”

Erica Brown and Arnisha Thomas, who both came off the bench last season, figure to be in the starting lineup to start the season.

Both players averaged just less than four points a game last season.

In the loss to the Kangaroos last season, the Panthers lost the turnover battle 17-10 and Eastern assistant coach Bryce Agler said winning the turnover and rebound battle would be key for a victory.

“I just hope we play well and start the season with a win,” he said. “If we win the turnover battle and keep UMKC off the boards, I think we have a good chance to win Saturday.”

With her first college game being on her home floor, Lennox said that does provide some comfort.

“We know the court well and are familiar with the rings, which makes it easier to have a quick and solid start,” she said. “Having the home support will also help us to make a positive start to our season.”

The Panthers and Kangaroos will tip-off at 2 p.m. Saturday in Lantz Arena.

Bob Reynolds can be reached at 581-2812 or [email protected].