With five rookies and seven returning players, Head Coach Jean Marie Burr will depend on the leadership and athleticism of centers Rachel McDonald and Keri Larkin to anchor the team.

MacDonald, an explosive offensive force, averaged 11.0 points and 8.1 rebounds last year.

Burr will also be watching newcomer Miranda Craigwell, who was the first player in her high school to score 1,000 points. Craigwell should benefit from McDonald and Larkin's guidance.

Maloni's accomplice in the backcourt, Rada Pavichevich, also runs a fluid offense. Her ballhandling and defensive abilities complement Maloni's skills nicely. Pavichevich averaged 9.8 points and 5.1 rebounds per game last year.

Erin-Kate Barton is the leader of Brown's rich forward ranks, but she will vie with new faces for playing time this season. Described by scouts in high school as nearly impossible to defend, 6'1 freshman Nyema Mitchell will push Barton for playing time. Their battle for minute will be the subject of much scrutiny.

6. Cornell

With a deeper roster and more experienced players, Cornell is ready to make its championship hopes a concrete reality this season.

With a quick first step and great instincts on the court, junior guard Deborah Stevens leads a talented corps of Big Red players. Stevens' versatility paced the Big Red in the 1999-2000 season, as she averaged 12.7 points and 5.1 rebounds per game while racking up 80 assists and 49 steals over the course of the year.