East Division

Western Kentucky Lady Toppers (19-8, 12-2 Sun Belt)

The Lady Toppers started the season with a bang, defeating then-No. 10 Louisiana Tech at Diddle Arena. They slipped a little over the winter break, losing four straight games. But Western has climbed back to the top of the hill and enters the tournament on an 11-game winning streak. Major performances by junior guard Leslie Logsdon and senior forward Shala Reese, who are first and second in the conference in scoring, respectively, and Freshman of the Year Tiffany Porter-Talbert should help the Lady Toppers continue their dominance in the conference.

Projected starters: G Kristina Covington (5-10, Sr.); G Leslie Logsdon (5-10, Jr.); G Tiffany Porter-Talbert (5-9, Fr.); F Shala Reese (6-1, Sr.); C Tiffany Diggins (6-4, Sr.).

Head coach: Mary Taylor Cowles (19-8, 1st year)

Leading scorers: Logsdon (17.2 ppg); Reese (16.4 ppg); Porter-Talbert (12.6 ppg)

Last NCAA Tournament appearance: 2000

Last regular-season Sun Belt title: 1997

Last year’s finish: 16-14, 9-5 Sun Belt, 2nd East

Location: Bowling Green, Ky.

Middle Tennessee State Lady Raiders (19-8, 12-2 Sun Belt)

The Lady Raiders duked it out with Western for the East Division title, but a loss to the Lady Toppers in MTSU’s final game relegated the Lady Raiders to the No. 2 tournament seed. Freshman forward Tia Stovall has given their roster a boost after she entered the lineup in midseason.

Projected starters: G Patrice Holmes (5-9, So.); G Keisha McClinic (5-10, Jr.); G Paula Pentilla (5-9, Sr.); F Mia Parviainen (6-1, Sr.); F Tia Stovall (6-0, Fr.)

Head coach: Stephany Smith (106-67, 6th year)

Leading scorers: Holmes (16.2 ppg); Stovall (11.5 ppg); Kirby (9.2 ppg)

Last NCAA Tournament appearance: None

Last regular-season Sun Belt title: None

Last year’s finish: 16-13, 7-7 Sun Belt, 3rd East

Location: Murfreesboro, Tenn.

Florida International Golden Panthers (18-9, 9-5 Sun Belt)

Hot-hand senior guard Mandy Shafer has played a key role for the Golden Panthers. In her final game at Golden Panther Arena, she scored a game-high 27 points. The frontcourt duo of Cormisha Cotton and Dace Cinite has been a force on the boards, combining for 16.1 rebounds per game.

Projected starters: G Anita Heller (5-9, Sr.); G Mandy Shafer (6-0, Sr.); G Ivelina Vrancheva (5-9, Sr.); F Cormisha Cotton (6-3, Sr.); F/C Dace Cinite (6-2, So.)

Head coach: Cindy Russo (544-210, 26th year)

Leading scorers: Shafer (16.1 ppg); Cotton (11.8 ppg); Cinite (11.2 ppg); Vrancheva (10.3 ppg)

Last NCAA Tournament appearance: 1999

Last regular-season Sun Belt title: 2002

Last year’s finish: 27-6, 13-1 Sun Belt, 1st East

Location: Miami, Fla.

Arkansas State Lady Indians (10-17, 5-9 Sun Belt)

Senior playmaker Casie Lowman will lead the fourth-seeded Lady Indians into the tournament. Lowman is the team’s leading scorer and is ranked in the top 10 in the conference in assists (3.33) and steals (2.15).

Projected starters: G Amber Abraham (5-10, So.); G Casie Lowman (5-7, Sr.); G Catriece Webster (5-10, Jr.); F Z Humphries (6-0, Sr.); F Jolie McKeirnan (6-1, Sr.)

Head coach: Brian Boyer (54-59 4th year)

Leading scorers: Lowman (12.4 ppg); McKeirnan (11.9 ppg); Webster (10.9 ppg)

Last NCAA Tournament appearance: None

Last regular-season Sun Belt title: None

Last year’s finish: 12-16, 6-8 Sun Belt, 4th East

Location: Jonesboro, Ark.

Arkansas-Little Rock Lady Trojans (5-22, 0-14 Sun Belt)

The Lady Trojans struggled throughout the season, failing to win a conference game. At one point, Arkansas-Little Rock had a three-game winning streak, but the Lady Trojans have lost 17 of their last 19 games. Lone senior Eplunus Brooks and leading scorer Darci Cassidy are the Lady Trojans’ key players.

UALR will take on North Texas Thursday at 5:30 p.m.

Projected starters: G Darci Cassidy (5-5, So.); G Andrea Stone (5-7, Fr.); G Brandy Taylor (5-6, Fr.); F Roberta Sarti (6-3, Jr.); C Eplunus Brooks (6-0, Sr.)

Head coach: Tracy Stewart-Lange (24-86, 4th year)

Leading scorers: Cassidy (12.7 ppg); Brooks (12.1 ppg)

Last NCAA Tournament appearance: None

Last regular-season Sun Belt title: None

Last year’s finish: 8-19, 2-12 Sun Belt, 5th East

Location: Little Rock, Ark.

West Division

New Mexico State Aggies (16-11, 10-5 Sun Belt)

The Aggies finished atop the West despite a coaching debacle earlier in the season. Former head coach Nikita Lowry was placed on administrative leave in December and NMSU men’s assistant Elmer Chavez was named interim coach. The Aggies were led by the backcourt trio of Sinnamonn Garrett, Princess Moore and Mari Sanchez.

Projected starters: G Sinnamonn Garrett (5-9, Jr.); G Princess Moore (5-7, So.); G Mari Sanchez (5-4, Sr.); F Orphee Cherizard (5-11, Jr.); F Jenean Ford (6-1, So.)

Head coach: Elmer Chavez (interim)

Leading scorers: Garrett (16.3 ppg, Sanchez (11.1 ppg) Moore (10.1 ppg)

Last NCAA Tournament appearance: None

Last regular-season Sun Belt title: None

Last year’s finish: 13-16, 6-9 Sun Belt, 4th West (tie)

Location: Las Cruces, N.M.

South Alabama Jaguars (18-9, 10-5 Sun Belt)

The Jags clinched the school’s first West Division title and earned the No. 2 Sun Belt Tournament seed. USA’s young squad lost only one starter from last season and improved to 18-9, its best finish since a 19-12 season in 89-90. The Jaguars will take on Florida International or Louisiana-Lafayette on Sunday.

Projected starters: G Sara Carter (5-1, Jr.); G Qiana Mitchell (5-10, So.); G Shawntay Smith (5-9, Jr.); F Genevieve Delk (6-0, So.); F Taneisha Russell (5-11, Sr.).

Head coach: Rick Pietri (48-36, 3rd year).

Leading scorers: Russell (16.3 ppg); Mitchell (11.2 ppg)

Last NCAA Tournament appearance: None

Last regular-season Sun Belt title: None

Last year’s finish: 17-11, 7-8 Sun Belt, 3rd West

Location: Mobile, Ala.

New Orleans Privateers (12-15, 9-6 Sun Belt)

The Privateers won a big game in their final match up against South Alabama, but it wasn’t enough to earn the No. 2 seed. Senior forward Lora Ruddy has performed well in recent weeks, including a triple-double.

Projected starters: G Chelsea Core (5-10, Jr.); G Michelle Simmons (5-7, Jr.); G Monique Taylor (5-7 Jr.); F Lora Ruddy (6-1, Sr.); C Joevone Markey (6-3, So.)

Head coach: Joey Favaloro (372-285, 21st year)

Leading scorers: Taylor (13.0 ppg); Ruddy (9.3 ppg)

Last NCAA Tournament appearance: None

Last regular-season Sun Belt title: None

Last year’s finish: 11-18, 6-9 Sun Belt, 4th West (tie)

Location: New Orleans, La.

Denver Pioneers (12-17, 6-9 Sun Belt)

After last season’s second-place finish in the West Division, Denver suffered its first losing season in four years. Under the leadership of senior guard Ashley Atkinson, the Pioneers will contend for the title.

Projected starters: G Ashley Atkinson (5-10, Sr.); G Tasha Jones (5-9, So.); F Nicky Eason (5-10, So.); F Stephanie Hart (6-0, Jr.); F Ragan Neblett (6-2, Jr.)

Head coach: Pam Tanner (124-100 8th year)

Last NCAA Tournament appearance: None

Last regular-season Sun Belt title: None

Last year’s finish: 16-13, 11-4, 2nd West

Location: Denver, Colo.

North Texas Lady Eagles (11-15, 6-9 Sun Belt)

The Lady Eagles slipped in the standings this season, going from first in the West a year ago to fifth this season. Then again, only one starter returned in 2002-03. Junior forward Kim Blanton and senior forward Vilma Grismanauskaite have been huge factors in the post.

Projected starters: G Erika Bobo (5-8, Fr.); G Heather Trout (5-10, Jr.); F Kim Blanton (6-1, Jr.); F Emily Britt (6-0, Sr.); C Vilma Grismanauskaite

Head coach: Tina Slinker (173-207, 14th year)

Last NCAA Tournament appearance: None

Last regular-season Sun Belt title: None

Last year’s finish: 21-9, 12-3 Sun Belt, 1st West

Location: Denton, Texas.

Louisiana-Lafayette (8-18, 4-11 Sun Belt)

The Ragin’ Cajuns once again finished sixth in the West, but managed to close the regular season on a two-game winning streak. Senior starters Charlotte Green, Sarah Richey, and Brooke Williams will play in their last games.

Projected starters: G Charlotte Green (5-7, Sr.); G Tammie White (5-5, Jr.); F Brooke Williams (6-1, Sr.); F Bernette Tolston (5-9, So.); F/C Sarah Richey (6-1, Sr.)

Head coach: J. Kelley Hall (8-18, 1st year)

Last NCAA Tournament appearance: None

Last regular-season Sun Belt title: None

Last year’s finish: 7-21, 1-14, 6th West

Location: Lafayette, La.