JUNIOR COLLEGE WOMEN’S BASKETBALL PREVIEW

ANTELOPE VALLEY

COACH: John Taylor, first season

LAST SEASON: 16-15; third in Foothill Conference at 10-6

OUTLOOK: Taylor built a strong program in seven seasons at Valley and now tries to work some magic with the Marauders. Guard Ebony Sullivan, the team’s leading scorer at 13.1 points per game, returns. Guard Tina Carrillo averaged 2.6 assists. The Marauders have five players 6 feet or taller.

OPENER: Today, vs. Irvine Valley at Santa Barbara tournament, 8 p.m.

CANYONS

COACH: Greg Herrick, ninth season

LAST SEASON: 26-7; first in Western State Conference Southern at 12-0

OUTLOOK: Where will the scoring come after the graduation of Sha’Tasha Allen, WSC Southern Division most valuable player, who averaged 20.7 points, and Kameelah Purdom , who averaged, 11.8 points? Both are at Cal State Northridge. Herrick is counting on guard Vonetta Lanier (8.3 points), last season’s sixth man. Siosi Tuli, a 6-1 forward who led Canyons with 201 rebounds, is an inside force.

OPENER: Saturday, vs. Cypress, 7 p.m.

GLENDALE

COACH: Dyan Miller, fifth season

LAST SEASON: 14-16; sixth in WSC Southern at 3-9

OUTLOOK: Returning All-WSC guard Marilyn Dubon helped to vastly improve the Vaqueros last season. She led the conference in scoring at 23.3 points per game and was fourth in three-point baskets with 45. But Glendale needs more contributions from a supporting cast that includes Leslie Lara from El Camino Real and Zakiyyah Adams from Sylmar, both sophomore guards.

OPENER: Today, at Cuyamaca, 7 p.m.

MOORPARK

COACH: Sherry Ruter, sixth season

LAST SEASON: 9-19; third in WSC Northern at 8-4

OUTLOOK: With four players 5-8 or taller, the Raiders could hold their own under the boards, but their inexperience might be too big a factor to overcome. There are nine freshmen on the roster. Guards Crystal Sutton (9.0 points) and T.C. Plante (6.0 points), and forward Melissa Cruz (6.0 points) are returning starters.

OPENER: Wednesday vs. Grossmont, 7 p.m.

OXNARD

COACH: Pat Olivares, third season

LAST SEASON: 9-16; sixth in WSC Northern at 3-8

OUTLOOK: The personnel constantly changes for the Condors, who last season won more games than in the previous three seasons combined. They are dreadfully inexperienced with eight freshmen. Jackie Allmandinger, a 6-foot center, returns after averaging a team-high 13.3 points and 10.3 rebounds.

OPENER: Today, vs. Southwest at Trade Tech tournament, 2:30 p.m.

PIERCE

COACH: Jim Couch, fourth season

LAST SEASON: 2-26; seventh in WSC Northern at 0-12

OUTLOOK: Much like Oxnard, the Brahmas have a high turnover of players. Of course, losing WSC games by an average margin of 41.5 points, as Pierce did last season, can scare away recruits. Forwards Kaleen Clinton (9.0 points) and Cathleen Reuter (8.0 points, 6.5 rebounds), who are among only three sophomores on the team.

OPENER: Today, vs. San Bernardino Valley at Trade Tech tournament, 7 p.m.

VALLEY

COACH: Mike Muro, first season

LAST SEASON: 17-15; fifth in WSC Southern at 5-7

OUTLOOK: Muro takes over after fives seasons as a Monarch assistant and goes to battle with a freshman-laden squad. All-WSC guard Michelle Tompkins (13.7 points) is the only returning sophomore. The freshmen include Michelle Duncan, a 6-2 forward who averaged nine points and 12 rebounds at Burbank last season.

OPENER: Today, vs. El Camino at San Diego Mesa tournament, 3:30 p.m.

VENTURA

COACH: Ned Mircetic, 11th season

LAST SEASON: 38-0; first in WSC Northern at 12-0

OUTLOOK: No one can ever count out Ventura, the defending state champion, but this group doesn’t have one player from last year’s team. Sarah Kolbeck, a 5-8 forward who averaged 18.7 points and 15.4 rebounds at Santa Paula last season, and Lottie Kanama, a 6-1 forward who averaged 10.8 points at Westlake, are among the top newcomers.

OPENER: Today, vs. Riverside at Chaffey tournament, 1 p.m.