COEUR d'ALENE - Two years ago, a sophomore-loaded North Idaho College women's basketball team won the program's first NJCAA championship.

Back in that situation again this season with seven sophomores, the pieces are in place for another deep run for the Cardinals, who are ranked No. 3 in the NJCAA preseason poll.

Four of the seven sophomores (Katie Buskey, Angela Woods, Danika Johnson and Aimee Durbidge) return with starting experience from last year's 23-6 finish.

"We've compared this group to that of a couple years ago," NIC coach Chris Carlson said. "It's a great bar to have at our disposal. And we're not that far off from that group. We're a really deep team and have good speed and size. They've all got a little bit of size and we've got some excellent shooters, so I wouldn't say we're too far off."

NIC lost starting forward Julia Salmio and point guard Korina Baker to graduation. Salmio signed with NCAA Division II Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and Baker is playing at SMU.

Ashleigh Kelman-Poto transferred to Division II East Central University in Ada, Okla., Dani Kastrava transferred to Chemeketa Community College in Salem, Ore., and Coeur d'Alene High grad Hailey Petit also left the program, but Petit is still at NIC and is studying in the athletic training department.

"Hailey actually does a lot of the training for the women's team," Carlson said. "Dani wanted to go somewhere a little closer to home."

Georgia Stirton, a 5-foot-8 guard from Melbourne, Australia, is projected to start at point guard for NIC.

"She's been doing a nice job," Carlson said. "She's a very skilled point guard. She's a great passer and good scorer and just a tough competitor."

Sophomores Tori Davenport, Mollie Kramer and Hannah Love also return.

"We have some excellent experience and some excellent freshmen," Carlson said. "I think we've more than replaced our losses. All in all, it looks great on paper right now."

Among the incoming freshman are Jansen Butler from Lake City High and Maggie Kirscher of Sandpoint.

"Both of them are very bright and up to speed with what we're doing," Carlson said. "Both are capable of getting some minutes and I like how they're progressing."

Renae Mokrzycki, a 6-foot forward from Cranbourne, Australia, also joins the team as a freshman.

"The distance between Melbourne and Cranbourne is like the distance from Tacoma to Everett (61 miles)," Carlson said.

NIC opens the regular season on Saturday against the North Idaho All-Stars, with Lindsay Herbert, Heather Bowman, Jenna Griffitts-Legat and Mandy Jacques among those expected to play for the All-Stars.

NIC begins Scenic West Athletic Conference play Dec. 13 at Colorado Northwestern.

"I think we've got what it takes to be a really, really strong basketball team," Carlson said. "We've got what it takes to get deep in the NJCAA tournament, but our biggest problem is getting out of our own conference."

NIC won the SWAC title last year, but lost to Salt Lake 66-61 in the Region 18 tournament semifinals in Salt Lake City. Snow won the regional title last year to advance to nationals.

"Our region looks tougher than ever," Carlson said. "We do get to host the regional tournament and we've got some good things going for us, but we've got some work to do and need to stay healthy."

NIC also travels to Snow, Salt Lake and Southern Idaho twice this season, something that Carlson hopes build toughness on the court.

"It's got to help," Carlson said. "Traveling in our league challenges your ability to focus and go out and get it done on the court in hostile environments. And it also helps with other team's home court advantage."

This year, there are eight at-large bids to the NJCAA tournament, with bids given out within four different quads across the nation. Four of those bids are dedicated to one quad this year, but it's not Region 18. The other four at-large berths will go to teams in the other three quads - one quad which includes Region 18.

"I'm liking our ranking right now," Carlson said. "If we play the kind of basketball that we're capable of, I think it can be very helpful. But I think we're more excited to get to host regionals in our own gym and make that home-court advantage a key point at that point in the season."