Indianapolis, a point of convergence of several major interstate highways, is known as the Crossroads of America. And this weekend it plays host to the 2007 Big Ten Women's Basketball Tournament.

On the cusp of the tournament, the Penn State Lady Lions are holding onto the last shreds of hope that a good showing will propel them into the postseason. They need to win at least one conference playoff game to put themselves into contention for the WNIT. It appears that they are at the crossroads of their season.

No. 1 Ohio State

Stars: Sr. C Jessica Davenport (19.4 ppg, 9.7 rpg), Jr. G Marscilla Packer (10.8 ppg), So. F Star Allen (10.4 ppg, 64.4 FG percentage)

In short: Ohio State cruised through the Big Ten regular season for a third straight season, losing only to Michigan State on Feb. 18. Losing senior guard Brandie Hoskins on Feb. 8 because of a torn Achilles' tendon forced the Buckeyes to spread their offense around a bit. But they still have Davenport, who is the first three-time conference Player of the Year.

No. 2 Purdue

Stars: Sr. G Katie Gearlds (18.1 ppg, 4.8 rpg), Jr. F Lindsay Wisdom-Hylton (14.3 ppg, 7.8 rpg)

In short: It's no secret Purdue's chances hinge on the performances of Gearlds and Wisdom-Hylton. However, the Boilermakers aren't worrying. Gearlds was a unanimous first-team all-Big Ten pick, and Wisdom-Hylton took home the conference's Defensive Player of the Year award. Purdue's ability to score with the best and also to shut them down makes them very dangerous. Their only two losses in the Big Ten were hard-fought battles with Ohio State and Michigan State.

No. 3 Michigan State

Stars: Fr. C Allyssa DeHaan (12 ppg, 7.6 rpg), Sr. G Victoria Lucas-Perry (13.6 ppg)

In short: Four of Michigan State's seven losses have been in back-to-back games. But when the No. 22 Spartans get going they can be difficult to beat. Case in point: Michigan State won five games in a row before becoming the only Big Ten team to defeat Ohio State this season. However, Michigan State had a few hiccups this season, including losses to Hofstra early and Illinois late in the season. Also, watch for 6-foot-9 DeHaan, who can be imposing in the paint.

No. 4 Illinois

Stars: So. G Lori Bjork (14.8 ppg), Fr. C Jenna Smith (11.1 ppg, 7.8 rpg)

In short: The Illini should not be overlooked because they have basically everything to play for. Secured firmly on the bubble, one or two quality wins in the conference tournament could vault them into the Big Dance. They're inexperienced but extremely talented, as evidenced by an impressive late-season win over Michigan State when they needed it most. "The longer we stay on the hardwood, the better it is for us," head coach Theresa Grentz said.

No. 5 Penn State

Stars: Sr. C Amanda Brown (14.2 ppg, 10 rpg), Fr. G Tyra Grant (14.6 ppg), Jr. G Kam Gissendanner (12.5 ppg)

In short: If the Lady Lions could play on the road as well as they do at home, they would probably be ranked and looking forward to the NCAAs. All season they've been unable to overcome the barrier that hinders any efforts to win away from the Bryce Jordan Center. A win in Indianapolis would be Penn State's first against a Big Ten opponent in games outside of State College. The Lady Lions 7-1 conference record in home games was enough to secure them a first-round bye.

No. 6 Wisconsin

Stars: Jr. G Jolene Anderson (18.5 ppg, 7.2 rpg)

In short: It's all about Anderson when it comes to the Badgers. The first-team All-Big Ten junior guard leads Wisconsin in almost every statistical category -- points, rebounds, steals and minutes played. And she's second in assists. The Badgers, who have been inconsistent all season, will lean on Anderson heavily in the conference tournament.

No. 7 Minnesota

Stars: Sr. G Kelly Roysland (13.1 ppg), So. G Emily Fox (12.7 ppg)

In short: Roysland, Minnesota's only senior, leads a young squad still looking to find its identity. Still, she's seen an underdog group go places before, as a member of the 2004 team that mustered a No. 7 seed in the national tournament yet still took an improbable journey to the Final Four. "It's a new season for everybody," head coach Pam Borton said.

No. 8 Iowa

Stars: So. C Megan Skouby (13.5 ppg), So. G Kristi Smith (13.6 ppg, 4.17 apg), So. F Wendy Ausdemore (13.1 ppg)

In short: The big three, Skouby, Smith and Ausdemore, have shouldered the load for much of Iowa's up and down season. Skouby, who had a broken hand earlier in the year, is still "not close to 100-percent," Iowa head coach Lisa Bluder said. Regardless, the Hawkeyes have lost to ranked teams seven times this season and, for the most part, have beaten the team's they should have. Even if they do get past Indiana on Thursday, the Hawkeyes will run into Ohio State in the quarterfinals.

No. 9 Indiana

Stars: Jr. G Nikki Smith (12.2 ppg), Sr. C Sarah McKay (11.4 ppg)

In short: It's hard for the Hoosiers to control their excitement. Despite dropping to the No. 9 seed after Sunday's loss to Penn State, head coach Felicia Legette-Jack's crew is licking its chops with the prospect of basically having home-court advantage at Conseco Fieldhouse. Legette-Jack, in her first year at Indiana, thinks the Hoosiers have the ability to make a run for the championship, much like 2002's team. "We believe in magic," she said. "We believe in miracles here."

No. 10 Michigan

Stars: Fr. C Krista Phillips (46.9 FG percentage)

In short: Michigan plummets into the tournament on the heels of a five-game losing streak to end the season. The Wolverines resigned themselves to stealing wins against some of the Big Ten's worst this season and really couldn't muster a solid showing, even at home against teams like Indiana. Michigan's first round meeting with Jolene Anderson and the rest of Wisconsin doesn't match up favorably.

No. 11 Northwestern

Stars: Sr. G A.J. Glausauer (12.8 ppg), Jr. G Sara Stutz (11.1 ppg)

In short: The Wildcats' record doesn't really dictate how many strides they've taken this season. After securing its first conference win against Penn State on Feb. 11, Northwestern gave Michigan State all it could handle and then defeated Michigan. Minnesota cannot look past Northwestern, or it will find itself going home early. "It doesn't matter what you did yesterday, it's what you do come crunch time," head coach Beth Combs said.

Virginia Harrison's predictions

Ohio State looks like the sure favorite in this tournament. The Buckeyes lost only one conference game and rank in the top three in the Big Ten in almost every statistical category, including No. 1 rankings in scoring offense and scoring defense. Ohio State has enough weapons to pick up the slack if Davenport has an off day.

Penn State's chances: Only meeting Illinois once this season, the Lady Lions lost in overtime - on the road. After upsetting Wisconsin in the first round as an eighth seed last year, Penn State is not foreign to winning big games. In a close one, Penn State will eke out a win in the first round but will fall to Ohio State in the second.

Joseph Dolan's predictions

Though Michigan State has proven they can beat Ohio State, and Purdue can certainly muster enough strong performances to do so, it's impossible to pick against the Buckeyes. Three-time running Big Ten Player of the Year Jessica Davenport just won't let a championship slip away in her senior season. However, if they miss Brandie Hoskins more than they're letting on, it wouldn't be surprising to see another team take the crown.

Penn State's chances: The Lady Lions are the hardest squad to predict in this field. Their performances at home show they could win it all, but their games on the road suggest otherwise. One would assume they'd be fired up for the tournament, but their woeful road record and the fact that Illinois is playing for entry into the NCAA Tournament will doom them.

Mark Viera's predictions

It's foolish to pick against Ohio State, so the Buckeyes get my vote by default. They Buckeyes have been the class of the Big Ten from the outset, and I wouldn't expect much to change in Indianapolis. In addition to Davenport, Ashlee Trebilcock has shined as Hoskins' replacement at point this season.

Penn State's chances: Against better judgment, I predict Penn State will actually win a Big Ten game away from the Jordan Center, a feat it hasn't accomplished all season. In their first meeting, the Lady Lions lost at Illinois in overtime. This time things might be different. But stealing anything more than one in the Indianapolis is improbably -- top-seeded Ohio State is likely their semifinal opponent.