Replacing four starters is never an easy task, but the Carthage women’s basketball team appears to have it covered.

Led by NCAA Division I transfer Diana Jacklin and a collection of experienced returners, the Reds expect to challenge for a College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin title and ultimately a spot in the NCAA Division III Tournament.

“It’s a different makeup of the team we had last year, but it’s fun to use different parts and see what we can get done,” said Carthage coach Tim Bernero, whose team opens the season at 7 tonight at Monmouth (Ill.).

“I think we’ll be pretty good. It’s not like we’re grabbing a couple kids off the street or playing a bunch of freshmen. These girls have played a lot of games.”

Bernero’s confidence stems plenty from the addition of Jacklin. The 6-0 sophomore transfer from Florida Gulf Coast will make an immediate impact, according to Bernero. Jacklin, the sister of former Carthage player Billy Jacklin, was an All-State player at Morton West High School in Berwyn, Ill.

“If everything goes as planned, she’s one of the top three or four players in the league right now,” Bernero said. “She gets out and runs the floor, shoots the ball face up and can even make threes. We’re not trying to put everything on her back, but it’s certainly nice to have someone like that on the team.”

Carthage finished 18-9 last season. The Reds lost to Illinois Wesleyan, 75-55, in the CCIW Tournament championship, falling one game short of their first league title since 1996 and capturing the conference’s automatic NCAA bid.

While the Reds lose the leadership of four graduated seniors, Carthage’s depth should carry over to this season. Senior Katie Klemke (4.5 ppg) and sophomore 3-point specialist Dani Ripkey (5.3 ppg) will start in the backcourt with junior Heather Gilmore (7.3 ppg, 2.9 rpg) and senior Rosie Dorn 6.7 ppg, 3.9 rpg) occupying the forward positions. Gilmore started 26-of-27 games last year.

With the versatile Jacklin in the middle, Carthage should have one of its most athletic teams in recent memory. Gilmore is member of the Carthage track and field team and is the defending CCIW champion in the 100-meter hurdles. Sophomore guard Drewann Pancratz, one of the team’s top bench players, is the setter on the school’s nationally-ranked volleyball team.

“This is kind of different for me,” Bernero said. “In the past, we were more of a physical, pound-it-in team. As long as we’re really good defensively and can rebound the ball, we’ll have the freedom to spread the floor and attack and do some things that way.”

Carthage was predicted to finish second in the CCIW behind defending champion Illinois Wesleyan. The Titans were ranked sixth in the D3hoops.com preseason poll.

“We want to be in the conversation to win the conference championship,” Bernero said. “If we keep moving forward and continue to improve we should be in the fight for it.”