Drexel

Last season: 24-9, 16-2 Colonial Athletic Association, first round NCAA Tournament

Starting five: Marisa Crane (G, So., ranked fifth on the team in assists and steals); Jasmina Rosseel (G, Jr., set Drexel single-season record with 90 three-pointers); Tyler Hale (F, So., played in 26 games and made two starts); Gabriela Marginean (F, Sr., finished third in the country in scoring at 23.3 ppg, named preseason All-American candidate); Jennifer Stjarnstrom (F, Sr., finished second on the team in blocks with 16)

Off the bench: Sophomore Kamile Nacickaite led the team in three-point percentage (.402) and should provide depth on the wing.

In passing: Coming off its first-ever CAA title in program history, Drexel was picked to repeat as conference champion in 2009-10. As long as Marginean stays healthy, Rosseel continues to be a viable second option and the younger players continue to make strides, there's no reason that can't happen.

La Salle

Last season: 10-19, 1-13 Atlantic 10

Starting five: Jamie Walsh (G, Sr., ranked ninth in the A-10 in three-point percentage at .391); Tara Lapetina (G, Sr., tied for the team lead in three-point percentage at .391 and ranked third in assists with 54); Ashley Gale (G, Jr., led the Explorers in steals with 42 and blocks with 17); Jenna Gilbert (F, So., started in 20 of her 29 games played); Morgan Robertson (F, Sr., finished first on the team in both scoring at 12.3 ppg and rebounding at 8.1 rpg, named to CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine All-District First Team)

Off the bench: Junior Chelsea Conner came off the bench to score six points in La Salle's exhibition loss to Holy Family Nov. 7 and should give the Explorers some quality minutes up front.

In passing: The Explorers return four starters and start three seniors. However they were still chosen to finish in the penultimate spot in the 14-team A-10.

Penn

Last season: 9-19, 6-8 Ivy League

Starting five: Sarah Bucar (G, Sr., started 17 games before getting injured, finished third on the team with 17 three-pointers); Caitlin Slover (G, Sr., played in all 28 games, led the Quakers in rebounding in five games); Sara Ely (G, So., played in 17 games as a rookie); Kim Adams (G, Jr., played in just one game last season, selected to Ivy League All-Rookie team as a freshman); Amy Donovan (F, Sr., sat out the entire 2008-09 season).

Off the bench: Junior Jerin Smith, who led the Quakers in scoring three times last season, should be McLaughlin's go-to post player off the bench.

In passing: The Quakers lost 74 percent of their scoring to graduation, most notably Carrie Biemer, who left as Penn's ninth all-time leading scorer in program history. Therefore, it will be up to some of the younger players to shoulder the load as this team looks to rebound under McLaughlin, who is the fastest coach in women's basketball history to reach 400 career victories. Penn was projected to finish seventh in the Ivy League.

Saint Joseph's

Last season: 13-17, 6-8 Atlantic 10

Starting five: Amy Gillespie (G, Sr., ranked second on the team with 26 three-pointers); Mariame Djouara (G, Jr., finished second on the team in scoring with 10.3 ppg); Dominique Bryant (F, Jr., appeared in 29 games, making 15 starts, third on the team in rebounding with 4.7 rpg); Brittany Ford (F, Sr., led Hawks in scoring at 12.2 ppg, shot 48.4 percent from the field); Ashley Logue (C, Sr., tied for ninth in the A-10 in blocks per game at 1.0, led team in rebounding with 5.5 rpg)

Off the bench: Sophomores Kelly Cavallo and Katie Kuester should see even more time in their second seasons for Griffin.

In passing: The Hawks, who return four seniors including Ford, have plenty of veteran leadership. But that didn't stop prognosticators from selecting Saint Joseph's to finish ninth in the conference.

Temple

Last season: 21-10, 11-3 Atlantic 10, first round NCAA Tournament

Starting five: LaKeisha Eaddy (G, Sr., finished second on the team in scoring at 11.4 ppg); Shaqwedia Wallace (G, Jr., averaged 10.0 ppg off the bench); Kristie Watkins-Day (G, Sr., started 20 of 23 games); Kristen McCarthy (F, So., named to A-10 All-Rookie Team); Marli Bennett (C, Jr., made 52 percent of her shots from the field)

Off the bench: BJ Williams, a sophomore guard who missed her first 16 games due to injury only to rebound and start four of her next 14, should be a significant part of Cardoza's rotation.

In passing: Cardoza's first season went exactly to plan as she guided the Owls to their sixth straight appearance in the NCAA Tournament. Unfortunately, Temple lost its two starting frontcourt players Shanea Cotton and Shenita Landry and was tabbed to finish fifth in the A-10. The Owls will be forced to rely on their perimeter players, including Eaddy, if they want to return to the Big Dance.

Villanova

Last season: 19-14, 10-6 Big East, first round NCAA Tournament

Starting five: Tia Grant (G, Sr., started 30 of 33 games); Maria Getty (G, Sr., shot 41.4 percent from three-point range); Kyle Dougherty (G, Sr., played in 31 games, shot 80 percent from the free throw line); Lindsay Kimmel (F, Jr., knocked down team-high 44 three-pointers); Shannon Elliot (F, Jr., appeared in 35 games while making one start, shot 35.2 percent from the field)

Off the bench: Redshirt freshman Laura Sweeney had nine points and seven rebounds in Villanova's 66-45 exhibition win over West Chester and should log plenty of minutes in her first season at both forward positions.

In passing: After being pegged to finish 10th in the Big East last season, Villanova shocked critics, advancing to its first NCAA Tournament since 2004. However, after losing two starters, the Wildcats were chosen to finish in 13th in the conference in 2009-10.