SLIPPERY ROCK — The Indiana (Pa.) University women's basketball team is picked to win the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference-West again this season.

IUPcoach Cindy Martin finds that flattering, but perhaps based more on past success than anything else.

"I think that's just a reflection of what we did last year," Martin said. "I think it's anybody's conference."

The Crimson Hawks do return the top player in the league in 6-foot-1 junior Jahzinga Tracey. Last year, Tracey averaged 18.5 points and 9.3 rebounds per game to power IUP to a 24-9 record.

Perhaps the biggest boost will come not on the court, but on the bench.

Former IUPplayer and Karns City High graduate Courtney Rattigan joins Martin's staff as an assistant coach.

When talking about her newest addition, Martin can't help but smile.

"I'm very excited about having her," Martin said. "With Courtney, this is the first time I've had a post coach on the bench. I get to really float this year at practice. Courtney is just a hard worker, very happy every day."

Following is a capsule preview of each team in the PSAC-West:

IUP• Coach: Cindy Martin, third year• Key players: Jahzinga Tracey (18.5 ppg), Staci Heberling (9.3 ppg), Kylie Miller (7.7 ppg)• Team notes: The Crimson Hawks are ranked No. 11 in the preseason Division II poll. It's the highest national ranking since Feb. 2000. ... Martin holds the best winning percentage in school history at .705. ... Tracey was the first IUPplayer to win the PSAC-West Player of the Year award.California• Coach: Darci Vincent, eighth year• Key players: Lindsay Johnson (11 ppg), Crystal Andrews (transfer from Pitt-Johnstown)• Team notes: The Vulcans' top two scorers from a season ago, Butler grad Kim Nowakowski and Bre Dillon, did not return to the team. ... Cal has appeared in the PSAC championship game for seven straight seasons. ... Vincent, the former coach at SRU, is 15 wins shy of 200 at Cal. ... The Vulcans have won at least 19 games for eight straight seasons.Edinboro• Coach: Stan Swank, 21st year• Key players: Kelsey Conklin (12 ppg), Samantha Reimer (13.1 ppg), Rae Sherred (9.3 ppg)• Team notes: Swank has had 15 winning seasons in his 20 years as coach. ... The Fighting Scots lost their top scorer, Kelly Calderone (1,460 points in her career), to graduation.Shippensburg• Coach: Kristy Trn, ninth year• Key players: Megan Fogle (10.8 ppg), Lauren Beckley (19.6 ppg)• Team notes: Beckley was a runaway winner of PSAC-West Rookie of the Year, breaking the conference and school freshman scoring record. ... Last year, Fogle became the 15th player in school history to reach 1,000 career points.Clarion• Coach: Gie Parsons, 19th year• Key players: Jessica Albanese (13.5 ppg), Ashley Grimm (6.8 ppg), Katrina Greer (12.7 ppg)• Team notes: Clarion returns all five starters. ... Grimm has started all 83 games she has played. ... Nine of the Golden Eagles' 26 games last season were decided by eight points or less.Slippery Rock• Coach: Laurel Heilman, eighth year• Key players: Nikki Presto (8.3 ppg), Chere' Marshall (8.5 ppg), Amanda Nero (10.1 ppg)• Team notes: Grove City High graduate Julie Molloy transfered to The Rock from Division I St. Bonaventure. ... Lost eight of the final nine games last season to miss the playoffs.Lock Haven• Coach: Jennifer Smith, first year• Key player: Ilia Lopez (12.9 ppg)• Team notes: Smith comes to Lock Haven after serving as the head coach at Goldey-Beacom College. ... Smith was a standout basketball player at Millersville. ... Lock Haven returns eight players who saw significant minutes last season.