JC WOMEN’S CAPSULES

Antelope Valley

COACH: Jackie Lott, 10th season

LAST SEASON: 20-12; tied for third in Foothill Conference at 11-5

OUTLOOK: With only two sophomores, only one who played last season, Lott has quite a challenge. Point guard Alicia Parra had 152 assists and averaged 9.78 points last season. The Marauders last season reached the playoffs for the sixth time, but getting there again could be tough.

OPENER: Friday vs. Santa Barbara at Santa Barbara tournament, 8 p.m.

Canyons

COACH: Greg Herrick, eighth season

LAST SEASON: 20-10; tied for second in WSC Southern at 8-4

OUTLOOK: Perhaps the strongest team in school history. All-WSC point guard Tasha Allen, who averaged 10.0 points and 5.1 assists, moves to shooting guard to make room for Natalie Avanecy, who averaged 13.0 points at Burbank. All-WSC forward Kameelah Purdom, 5-10, returns after averaging 16.4 points and 8.4 rebounds. LeAnne Bennett, a transfer from Cal State Northridge, is expected to contribute at forward.

OPENER: Saturday at Cypress, 7 p.m.

Glendale

COACH: Dyan Miller, fourth season

LAST SEASON: 6-24; seventh in WSC Southern at 1-11

OUTLOOK: Talk about a rebuilding project. The Vaqueros have only one player, 5-10 center Lauren Wintroath, who had significant playing time last season. Wintroath averaged 7.9 rebounds. Glendale gave up 66.9 points per game, a lethal generosity for a team that produced only 47.5 points per outing. Point guard Leslie Lara averaged 2.1 assists at El Camino Real last season.

OPENER: Friday vs. Rio Hondo at San Diego Mesa tournament, 1:30 p.m.

Moorpark

COACH: Sherry Ruter, fifth season

LAST SEASON: 18-14; third in WSC Northern at 6-4

OUTLOOK: Tentative, at best. Only two players return, guard Lenea Gutierrez and forward Crystal Rough, who saw limited action. Gutierrez averaged 9.6 points and 3.3 assists. The Raiders have 11 freshmen, including 6-foot center Joy Dougherty from Simi Valley and 5-10 forwards Laura Everett from Moorpark and LaShanda Smiley from Cleveland.

OPENER: Friday at Grossmont, 5 p.m.

Oxnard

COACH: Patricia Olivares, second season

LAST SEASON: 3-21; sixth in WSC Northern at 0-10

OUTLOOK: Oxnard is riding a 30-game WSC losing streak and is 4-67 overall in the last three seasons.

OPENER: Friday vs. Pierce at Trade Tech tournament, 7:30 p.m.

Pierce

COACH: Jim Couch, third season

LAST SEASON: 10-18; tied for fifth in WSC Southern at 4-8

OUTLOOK: Although barely noticeable at first glance, the Brahmas improved last season under Couch, the former Bell-Jeff coach. Pierce averaged 66.9 points and led the WSC in three-point shooting at 45.9% (113 of 246), but gave up 71.0 points per game.

OPENER: Friday vs. Oxnard at Trade Tech tournament, 7:30 p.m.

Valley

COACH: John Taylor, seventh season

LAST SEASON: 23-14; fourth in WSC Southern at 7-5

OUTLOOK: Young but talented. All-WSC center Carrie Miller, who averaged 8.2 points and 7.8 rebounds, anchors the Monarchs. The team strength might be the backcourt, which features freshmen Michelle Tompkins, a three-time All-City player at Fairfax who averaged 23.0 points last season, and JennieLee Greslie, a three-time All-Southern Section player at Village Christian. She averaged 21.4 points last season. Valley is aiming for a sixth consecutive season with 20 victories or more.

OPENER: Saturday at Victor Valley, 7 p.m.

Ventura

COACH: Ned Mircetic, 10th season

LAST SEASON: 32-4; first in WSC Northern at 10-0

OUTLOOK: The Pirates last season came within three points of winning an unprecedented third consecutive state title, losing to Sierra in the final, 62-60. With 11 sophomores, Ventura should again challenge for the championship. Guard Renae Hofmann, who averaged 15.1 points, provides the scoring punch. Guards Jackie Rhetta and Jessica Sanders can score and give the Pirates exceptional quickness.

OPENER: Friday vs. Butte at Chaffey tournament, 5 p.m.