HUNTINGTON -- Conference USA women's basketball is looking to make a move up the national ladder.

Preseason Player of the Year Emma Cannon leads the UCF Knights as they look to defend their title from last season.

Several teams are gunning for the Knights and the conference will look similar to last year's makeup.

Out of 12 teams, 11 have at least three starters returning. It should make for a great battle within the conference and a strong statement outside of the conference.

Here's a preview of each team, in order of expected conference finish.

SMU

Location: Dallas, Texas

Enrollment: 10,981

Nickname: Mustangs

Colors: Red and Blue

Arena: Moody Coliseum (8,998)

Head coach: Rhonda Rompola

SMU record: 332-209, 18 seasons

Career record: same

2008-09 record: 20-12 (12-4)

Outlook: The Mustangs return all five starters to a team that won the C-USA regular season championship in 2008-09.

Still, SMU was left with a bad taste after losing to UCF in the conference tournament semifinals, then exiting in the first round of the Women's NIT after a loss to Louisiana Tech.

The Mustangs feature 2008-09 C-USA Defensive Player of the Year Brittany Gilliam, who was joined on the all-conference second team by teammate Delisha Wills.

UTEP

Location: El Paso, Texas

Enrollment: 20,000

Nickname: Miners

Colors: Dark Blue, Orange, Silver Accent

Arena: Don Haskins Center (12,000)

Head coach: Keitha Adams

UTEP record: 123-113, 8 seasons

Career record: 250-150, 13 seasons

2008-09 record: 18-12 (11-5)

Outlook: The Miners were just a couple of minutes away from a berth in the C-USA semifinals when Marshall mounted a comeback that ended with Chantelle Handy's 18-footer in overtime.

After being ranked in 2007-08, the disappointing end has the Miners hungry to prove once again that they are the elite team.

Leading the charge is All-CUSA preseason team member Jareica Hughes, a 5-3 guard that has rewritten the UTEP record books.

UCF

Location: Orlando, Fla.

Enrollment: 50,284

Nickname: Knights

Colors: Black and Gold

Arena: UCF Arena (10,000)

Head coach: Joi Williams

UCF record: 27-37, 2 seasons

Career record: 81-98, 6 seasons

2008-09 record: 17-17 (11-5)

Outlook: The Knights are the keepers of the gate in C-USA and return four starters to the championship team.

UCF is led by forward Emma Cannon, the conference preseason player of the year, who is a threat for a double-double every single night.

Cannon is one of 10 players that came in together during Williams' first class, and the group's chemistry has led them to the top. They were picked last out of 12 teams in the preseason last year before claiming the tournament championship.

Marshall

Location: Huntington, W.Va.

Enrollment: 13,814

Nickname: Thundering Herd

Colors: Green and White

Arena: Cam Henderson Center (9,043)

Head coach: Royce Chadwick

Marshall record: 122-118, 8 seasons

Career record: 522-250, 25 seasons

2008-09 record: 17-15 (8-8)

Outlook: Marshall has a chance to make a move up Conference USA's ladder this year. The team returns four starters from a team that advanced to the C-USA tournament semifinals for the second straight season.

Junior Tynikki Crook is the main scoring and rebounding threat in the middle, but forwards Alyssa Hammond and Chantelle Handy are a pair of fifth-year seniors that average double figures each night and give the Thundering Herd balance.

Newcomer Veronica Ruiz is also expected to make a big contribution, and fifth-year senior Kendra King is returning to the frontcourt after sitting out last season because of a torn ACL.

Southern Miss

Location: Hattiesburg, Miss.

Enrollment: 15,000

Nickname: Golden Eagles

Colors: Black and Gold

Arena: Reed Green Coliseum (8,095)

Head coach: Joye Lee-McNelis

Southern Miss record: 79-75, 5 seasons

Career record: 308-231, 18 seasons

2008-09 record: 20-12 (11-5)

Outlook: The Golden Eagles are the lone team in the conference that does not return three or more starters, but that does not make them any less dangerous.

C-USA peseason team member Pauline Love returns to bring leadership and athleticism to a team that lost four starters from a year ago.

Also returning are super-athletic playmakers Candace Rucker and Tanesha Washington. Both will be counted on heavily for the Golden Eagles to stay atop the upper eschelon of the conference.

Houston

Location: Houston, Texas

Enrollment: 34,663

Nickname: Cougars

Colors: Scarlet and White with Navy Trim

Arena: Hofheinz Pavilion (8,479)

Head coach: Joe Curl

Houston record: 176-152, 11 seasons

Career record: 314-252, 20 seasons

2008-09 record: 19-10 (11-5)

Outlook: The Cougars also return four starters from last year's team, including forward Courtney Taylor, who was named to the All-CUSA preseason team.

Houston fell in the first round of the conference tournament last season, and now the team is looking to return to prominence.

They will need to find a complement for the do-it-all Taylor, though, if they are to make a move this season.

Tulsa

Location: Tulsa, Okla.

Enrollment: 4,165

Nickname: Golden Hurricane

Colors: Old Gold, Royal Blue, Crimson

Arena: Reynolds Center (8,355)

Head coach: Charlene Thomas-Swinson

Tulsa record: 55-67, 4 seasons

Career record: 79-128, 7 seasons

2008-09 record: 7-22 (3-13)

Outlook: The Golden Hurricane are coming off a dismal season in which the team struggled to find someone to take the pressure off of Larrissa Williams.

Williams is a combo forward that has assumed the leadership role of the team, but coach Charlene Thomas-Swinson will need someone to step up for her team to make a run as hosts of the C-USA tournament this season.

UAB

Location: Birmingham, Ala.

Enrollment: 16,149

Nickname: Blazers

Colors: Green and Old Gold

Arena: Bartow Arena (8,500)

Head coach: Audra Smith

UAB record: 64-84, 5 seasons

Career record: same

2008-09 record: 10-20 (5-11)

Outlook: Head coach Audra Smith has the dubious task of replacing graduated sharpshooter Britney Jones, a former C-USA second-team selection.

Smith now has six true freshmen and one transfer on the floor in hopes of finding someone to fill the scoring void.

Senior Amanda Peterson will assume the leadership role, but if Peterson is counted on to be the consistent scorer, it will be a long year for the Blazers.

Tulane

Location: New Orleans, La.

Enrollment: 10,616

Nickname: Green Wave

Colors: Olive Green and Sky Blue

Arena: Fogelman Arena (3,600)

Head coach: Lisa Stockton

Tulane record: 300-155, 15 seasons

Career record: 363-182, 18 seasons

2008-09 record: 18-14 (9-7)

Outlook: The Green Wave features center Brett Benzio and sharpshooter Indira Kaljo, both of whom earned postseason honors in 2008-09.

Benzio is a scoring and rebounding threat that picked up her game toward the end of the season while Kaljo was lights out from beyond the 3-point line.

The team has to replace the leadership skills of point guard Ashley Langford, who was a calming force on the court.

Rice

Location: Houston, Texas

Enrollment: 5,339

Nickname: Owls

Colors: Blue and Gray

Arena: Tudor Fieldhouse

Head coach: Greg Williams

Rice record: 58-69, 4 seasons

Career record: 259-208, 16 seasons

2008-09 record: 7-23 (2-14)

Outlook: The Owls were dead last in C-USA a year ago, and are still young with 10 players who are freshmen or sophomores.

D'Frantz Smart, a 5-0 point guard, was stellar throughout the first past of the season until an injury slowed her over the late stages of the year.

If Smart can stay healthy, she has the moxie to lead Rice to several victories this season.

East Carolina

Location: Greenville, N.C.

Enrollment: 27,703

Nickname: Pirates

Colors: Purple and Gold

Arena: Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum (8,000)

Head coach: Sharon Baldwin-Teneer

East Carolina record: 103-104, 7 seasons

Career record: 172-132, 10 seasons

2008-09 record: 18-13 (8-8)

Outlook: The Pirates return three starters to the mix, but lose the backcourt presence of sensational guards LaCoya Terry and Jasmine Young.

Terry and Young were the offensive catalysts, but the team's defense let them down last season. With the two scoring threats gone, more emphasis is on the defense to step up.

Jean Best is a physical force in the post for the Pirates.

Memphis

Location: Memphis, Tenn.

Enrollment: 20,379

Nickname: Tigers

Colors: Blue and Gray

Arena: Elma Roane Fieldhouse (2,565)

Head coach: Melissa McFerrin

Memphis record: 12-18, 1 season

Career record: 62-88, 5 seasons

2008-09 record: 12-18 (5-11)

Outlook: The Tigers lost guard Paris Leonard to graduation, but return three starters to a team that played well in spurts last season.

LaToya Bullard returns to the Tigers after missing last year injured. Bullard's presence will be a definite lift once she gets back to game speed after nearly 18 months away from the court.

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