For Big Five teams and Drexel, the women's basketball season could extend into March Madness because of the veterans they have on their rosters.
That same wealth of experience can be found on three other Division I teams followed locally - Delaware with junior sensation Elena Delle Donne, Rutgers with Wilmington's Kadijah Rushdan, and Penn State with sophomore Maggie Lucas, a Germantown Academy grad.
Coach Tonya Cardoza and Temple will look to continue to dominate the City Series, win the Atlantic Ten, and increase the Owls' string of NCAA appearances to nine straight, while St. Joseph's might finally end the Hawks' 11-year NCAA tournament drought.
Drexel, with four starters returning, should challenge favored Delaware in the Colonial Athletic Association, while Penn is good enough to perhaps land behind two-time defending Ivy champion Princeton and gain a bid to the WNIT.
"We feel this is our year" to win the Atlantic Ten, Cardoza has proclaimed. Those prospects are bolstered by the return of senior Shey Peddy, who injected energy into the Owls offense after transferring from Wright State. She was rewarded with Big Five player-of-the-year honors and was Temple's leader in points, assists, and steals.
Senior Kristen McCarthy faded a bit but remains a potent scoring threat who could follow former Owl all-American Candice Dupree into the WNBA. The Owls have size and athleticism with post players Victoria Macaulay, a junior center, senior center Joelle Connelly, and junior forward Natasha Thames.
"Why not the Hawks?" asks coach Cindy Griffin, who begins her 11th season at her alma mater. Her team is a legitimate threat in the A-10.
Eleven letter-winners and five starters return. Former Archbishop Wood star Ashley Robinson vastly improves the frontcourt after a delay of two years starting her collegiate career because of knee injuries.
"We'll be better and more competitive, though I don't know how many more wins that will be worth," said Villanova's longtime coach, Harry Perretta.
Lindsay Kimmel remains a strong perimeter threat in her second season with the Wildcats. Other key veterans are junior forward Laura Sweeney, who led the team in scoring, steals, blocks, and rebounds; junior guard Rachel Roberts; sophomore guard Devon Kane; and junior forward Megan Pearson.
