Rochester: This might be the season the Rams finally get over the Quigley hump. Rochester is 0-6 against the Spartans the past three seasons and undefeated against the rest of the section. The Rams were a PIAA tournament qualifier last season, when their top three scorers (guard Sam Robson, forward Hayden Kimbrough and guard/forward Ivorie Law) were all underclassmen.

Quigley: Seniors Allie Brooks and Taylor Verrico were one of the top scoring duos in the WPIAL last season, when each averaged 16 ppg and led the Spartans to the PIAA playoffs.

Union: Savannah Partridge was one of only two freshmen in the WPIAL to be named to an all-section team last season. A 5-6 guard, she averaged 17.7 ppg and returns to lead an all-underclassmen starting lineup.

Sewickley Academy: The Panthers project to start four sophomores, and coach Allen Vaccarelli pledges to turn up the tempo of the team's offense to take advantage of its athleticism.

Monaca: The Indians are young (no seniors on the roster) but experienced (four starters return). Coach Tim Morgan believes they will be greatly improved over last season's 3-15 team.

Beaver County Christian: The Eagles enter their second season as part of the WPIAL, going 6-14 in their inaugural campaign.

Western Beaver: Kayla Helble averaged 11.9 ppg game as a junior guard last season, when the Golden Beavers were more competitive than during their winless 2007-08 campaign.

Serra: The perennially powerful Eagles perpetually reload after losing top players to graduation, and this season figures to be no different. Senior Taylor Minkus, a 5-10 forward, and junior Lauren Bartko, a 5-6 guard/forward, were some of Serra's top underclassmen last season.

Clairton: Senior Alexis Sayles was named to the all-section team last season after the 5-10 forward averaged 13 ppg for the second consecutive year. The Bears have qualified for the postseason throughout this decade.

Fort Cherry: The Rangers must replace a strong senior class from last season that included section player of the year Marissa Miles, who now plays at Case Western Reserve University.

Avella: The Eagles have qualified for the playoffs in eight of the past nine years but return only two starters (5-8 senior guard/forward Anastasia Barr and 5-7 junior guard Amanda Temple) from last season.

Cornell: The Red Raiders have had seven victories during each of the past two seasons after having only eight in the previous five years combined.

Chartiers-Houston: The Bucs haven't made the playoffs since 2004 and have won only 13 games the past three seasons. As a junior last season, guard/forward Katie Rosemeier led the team in scoring (10 ppg).

Aquinas Academy: A tiny school in Hampton, the Crusaders are new to the WPIAL for girls' basketball this season.

Monessen: All-time leading WPIAL scorer Gina Naccarato takes over for legendary Major Corley as coach of the Greyhounds, who haven't lost a section game since 2006-07 but must replace their top two scorers from last season. Guard Geena Shrader was arguably the top freshman in the section last season (10.1 ppg) and figures to grow into more of a threat.

Geibel: Senior guard/forward Breanne Dowden (15.1 ppg) was the only underclassman named to the all-section team after last season, and she headlines a group of five returning players -- four of whom are seniors -- with starting experience.

California: Kristina Wagner, a 5-7 forward, averaged a double-double last season as a junior.

Mapletown: The Maples lost all-section talent Kaitlyn Novak, but their second- and third-leading scorers last season were underclassmen.

Carmichaels: Nine of the Mighty Mikes' 14 players are freshmen, and 5-11 senior center Molly Stuvek (10 ppg) is the lone returning starter.

West Greene: The Pioneers return three starters and plan on utilizing an almost entirely underclassman rotation.

Jefferson-Morgan: The good news is that virtually everyone returns from last season's team. The bad news? The Rockets went 1-20 last season.

North Catholic: The defending WPIAL champion Trojanettes headline what is unquestionably Class A's toughest conference, containing each of the top three ranked teams. Juniors forward Kendall Hoffman and guard Erin DiSanti will have to step up their scoring to make up for the graduations of Lauren Savulchak and Ashley Bellovich.

Vincentian: Despite the graduation of Lindsay Primyon, juniors 5-11 guard/forward Keturah Vactor (12.1 points, 7.6 rebounds per game last season) and 6-1 center Gabby Baldasare (8.2, 10.8) will keep the Royals in title contention.

Mount Alvernia: As usual, legendary longtime coach De Porucznik's team will be one to be reckoned with. Senior center Gabrielle Holko (11.6 ppg last season) is a three-year starter.

Winchester Thurston: The Bears returned to the WPIAL last season and qualified for the playoffs. Each of their top three scorers were juniors. Look for forward Jimyse Brown (16.3 ppg) and center Inaya Stephenson (17.8 ppg) to continue to be prolific scorers.

St. Joseph: Senior Jacqi Diez, a 5-8 guard, led the WPIAL in scoring last season at 25.9 ppg.

Ellis School: Last season, the Tigers won only one section game and were led in scoring by then-junior Gabi Whitmer, a guard/forward who averaged 10 ppg.

Trinity Christian: The Falcons went 1-16 last season and had the worst scoring defense (61.6 ppg) in Class A.

Gabby Baldasare, Vincentian, 6-1, Jr., Center

Jimyse Brown, Winchester Thurston, 5-10, Sr., Forward

Jacqi Diez, St. Joseph, 5-8, Sr., Guard

Erin DiSanti, North Catholic, 5-5, Jr., Guard

Kendall Hoffman, North Catholic, 5-11, Jr., Forward

Gabrielle Holko, Mt. Alvernia, 5-4, Sr., Guard

Savannah Partridge, Union, 5-6, So., Guard

Sam Robson, Rochester, 5-4, Sr., Guard

Alexis Sayles, Clairton, 5-10, Sr., Forward

Keturah Vactor, Vincentian, 5-11, Jr., Guard/Forward

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