The expansion of the women's basketball NCAA Tournament field from 48 to 64 doesn't necessarily broaden the chances of more teams from the Big Ten conference receiving an at-large bid.

Although the field has expanded, 32 automatic bids are extended --one to each Divison I conference champion. This leaves the rest of the nation's top teams vying for the remaining 32 spots.

So how do the teams in the middle of the conference pack and on the tournament bubble feel about their chances?

"I don't think they're very good. Not at all," Northwestern Coach Don Perrelli said. "We have eight losses in the Big Ten, and we're only 14-9 overall. And that doesn't equate into NCAA play, I don't think."

Perrelli's Wildcats have lost consecutive games to Indiana, 77-66, and Purdue, 76-61 last week, after going on a five-game win streak. Even if Northwestern, picked fourth in the coaches' preseason poll, wins the remainder of its games, the Wildcats are not a lock.

No. 2 Penn State (22-1, 13-1) and No. 10 Purdue (21-4, 12-2) are locks, and are expected to receive high seeds. No. 14 Iowa (18-5, 11-4), a Final Four participant last season, is almost assured a bid. And the chances for Indiana (17-6, 8-6) and Minnesota (15-8, 8-6) to make the cut looks promising.

Ohio State (12-12, 5-9) is ninth in the conference standings, and currently on a free-fall. The national runner-up last season, Ohio State relies heavily on the scoring ability of Katie Smith, but she can't carry the team into the promised land this season.

"I really don't think we can make the tournament," Ohio State Coach Nancy Darsch said. "All we can do is take those (four remaining games) one game at a time and put those in the hands of the committee. We can't put ourselves into the tournament."

Penn State at Iowa (Friday at 8:30 p.m.) -- This is a big test for the Lady Lions, who have had a week to prepare for their trip to Iowa City. But the Hawkeyes are tough at home. Coach C. Vivian Stringer's ballclub is 8-1 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena this season, with its only loss to Indiana.

Penn State survived a 63-61 scare from Iowa Feb. 6 at Rec Hall, when Hawkeye forward Necole Tunsil poured in 28 points.

"I think it's going to be an exciting weekend for us," Penn State Coach Rene Portland said. "Obviously we're putting the Big Ten title on the line every time we walk out on the floor, and we need to remember that. We will be majorly tested on how bad we want that title."