Local college women's basketball previews

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.