Capsules By Mike Terry

* Coach: Maryalyce Jeremiah (ninth season, 121-113)

* 2003-04 record: 9-20, 8-10 (tied for fifth in Big West Conference)

*--* CAL STATE FULLERTON

*--*

* Top returning players: F Amber Pruitt, Jr., 11.6 ppg, 6.1 rpg; G/F Charlee Underwood, So., 9.1 ppg, 3.8 rpg; G Meghann Keathley, Sr., 5.3 ppg, 3.5 apg

* Outlook: The Titans continue to rebuild, adding seven freshmen. Jeremiah is excited about the return of guard Audrey Taylor, who missed much of last season after knee surgery.

*--* CAL STATE NORTHRIDGE

*--*

* Coach: Tammy Holder (third season, 9-44)

* 2003-04: 6-20, 5-13 (tied for eighth in Big West)

* Top returning players: F Ofa Tulikihihifo, Jr., 16.4 ppg, 9.0 rpg; G/F LaJoyce King, So., 6.9 ppg, 5.3 rpg

* Outlook: The Matadors doubled their win total from the previous season, and Holder is optimistic the team can reach double figures in victories. The 5-11 Tulikihihifo was the conference’s leading rebounder.

*--* LONG BEACH STATE

*--*

* Coach: Mary Hegarty (second season, 14-16)

* 2003-04: 14-16, 8-10 (tied for fifth in Big West)

* Top returning players: C Petra Glaser, Sr., 13.4 ppg, 5.2 rpg; G Candice Wilson, Sr., 9.7 ppg, 4.2 apg; F/C Jayme Connors, Jr., 9.2 ppg, 7.8 rpg

* Outlook: Long Beach could return to postseason play for the first time since 2000 if the 6-6 Glaser, who had 17 blocks last season, is a bigger inside defensive presence and USC transfer Aisha Hollans can boost an offense that averaged 61.1 points.

*--* LOYOLA MARYMOUNT

*--*

* Coach: July Wilhoit (10th season, 115-134)

* 2003-04: 24-6, 13-1 (West Coast Conference champion)

* Top returning players: G Bianca Ziemann, Jr., 6.2 ppg; G/F Mary Turner, Sr., 5.9 ppg, 3.7 rpg

* Outlook: The Lions come off their best season, having won their first WCC title and made their first NCAA tournament appearance. But they don’t appear equipped to scale those heights again this season.

*--* PEPPERDINE

*--*

* Coach: Julie Rousseau (first season)

* 2003-04: 17-13, 10-4 (tied for second in WCC)

* Top returning players: G Shanell Law, Sr., 9.5 ppg, 3.2 rpg; F Jennifer Lacy, Sr., 8.8 ppg, 5.1 rpg

* Outlook: Rousseau, a former Stanford assistant, inherits a program that has been successful in the regular season but not in the postseason.

*--* UC IRVINE

*--*

* Coach: Mark Adams (eighth season, 86-108)

* 2003-04: 6-20, 5-13 (tied for eighth in Big West)

* Top returning players: G Courtney Ferguson, Sr., 7.9 ppg; F Lauren Yadon, Jr., 6.1 ppg, 3.2 rpg

* Outlook: It’s a young Anteater squad -- six freshmen and seven returning players with a combined 95 starts -- and it may take Adams until conference play to truly know what he has.

*--* UC RIVERSIDE

*--*

* Coach: John Margaritis (first season)

* 2003-04: 7-21, 6-12 (seventh in Big West)

* Top returning players: G Casandra Reeves, Sr., 17.2 ppg, 4.2 apg; F Jodi Reber, Sr., 9.5 ppg, 6.6 rpg

* Outlook: Margaritis comes over from Northern Arizona where he was an assistant for eight years. Reeves, who led the Highlanders in scoring and assists, is a conference player of the year candidate.

*--* UC SANTA BARBARA

*--*

* Coach: Mark French (18th season, 359-155)

* 2003-04: 27-7, 17-1 (Big West champion)

* Top returning players: G/F Kristen Mann, Sr., 13.6 ppg, 6.6 rpg; G Mia Fisher, Sr., 9.5 ppg; F Brandy Richardson, Sr., 5.8 ppg, 6.7 rpg

* Outlook: The Gauchos seek an unprecedented 10th consecutive conference title. Seven players return from last season’s team, which reached the Sweet 16 for the first time. Mann is a national player of the year candidate.

*--* UCLA

*--*

* Coach: Kathy Olivier (12th season, 165-152)

* 2003-04: 17-13, 11-7 (tied for third in Pacific 10 Conference)

* Top returning players: G Noel Quinn, So., 15.9 ppg, 7.7 rpg; G Nikki Blue, Jr. 15.2 ppg, 4.9 apg; G Lisa Willis, Jr., 14.3 ppg, 5.4 rpg

* Outlook: The Bruins last season returned to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2000. They expect a return trip this season.

*--* USC

*--*

* Coach: Mark Trakh (first season)

* 2003-04: 15-13, 11-7 (tied for third in Pac-10)

* Top returning players: G/F Meghan Gnekow, Jr., 7.9 ppg, 5.5 rpg; G Jamie Hagiya, So., 5.8 ppg, 2.6 apg; F Eshaya Murphy, So., 5.7 ppg, 2.9 rpg

* Outlook: Trakh comes from Pepperdine, where he was the school’s winningest coach. With 11 sophomores and freshmen, he gets a pass this season. With USC planning to move into a new arena in 2006, it won’t be a lifetime pass.