EAST REGIONAL

1. PENN STATE (25-5)

Comment: G Kelly Mazzante makes the Lady Lions go, scoring better than 20 points per game.

2. CONNECTICUT (25-4)

Comment: The Huskies lost four games this season and, at times, showed signs of fraying. But G Diana Taurasi is still great, and there are bench warmers here who are better than some teams' stars.

3. HOUSTON (27-3)

Comment: Not one of the traditional powers, but the Cougars had their best season and are a threat to win this tournament behind G Chandi Jones, who is among the nation's top five scorers.

4. NORTH CAROLINA (24-6)

Comment: The Tar Heels play outstanding defense and have two exceptional freshmen, each of whom score about 14 points per game.

5. NOTRE DAME (19-10)

Comment: The Fighting Irish can boast victories over Connecticut and Boston College but went out early in the conference tournament.

6. COLORADO (22-7)

Comment: C Tera Bjorklund shoots 60 percent overall and G Kate Fagan knocks down 44 percent of her attempts from beyond the arc.

7. AUBURN (21-8)

Comment: The Tigers rode their defense, the toughest to score against in the SEC, to a third-place finish in the league.

8. VIRGINIA TECH (22-7)

Comment: The Hokies are a defensive team, ranking just outside the nation's top 10 in points allowed.

9. IOWA (16-12)

Comment: The Hawkeyes were the Big Ten's highest-scoring team and ranked last in points allowed.

10. NORTH CAROLINA STATE (17-14)

Comment: C Kaayla Chones is the only Wolfpack player who scores in double figures.

11. UC-SANTA BARBARA (25-6)

Comment: The Gauchos have a good mix of offense and defense.

12. SOUTHWEST MISSOURI STATE (28-3)

Comment: This is the best three-point shooting team in the country, making nine per game.

13. MIDDLE TENNESSEE STATE (23-7)

Comment: G Patrice Holmes and F Krystle Horton lead the way in scoring.

14. WISCONSIN-GREEN BAY (23-7)

Comment: A good foul-shooting team.

15. PENNSYLVANIA (17-10)

Comment: Jewel Clark puts in nearly 20 points per game.

16. HAMPTON (17-12)

Comment: Unbeaten in the past 10 games, the Pirates get by with a defense that allows just 35 percent shooting.

MIDEAST REGIONAL

1. DUKE (27-3)

Comment: G Alana Beard averages about 20 points, five rebounds and four assists per game.

2. KANSAS STATE (24-5)

Comment: The Wildcats have a terrific 1-2 punch inside, with F Kendra Wecker and C Nicole Ohlde, a two-time Big 12 player of the year, each averaging 17 points and seven rebounds per game.

3. BOSTON COLLEGE (25-6)

Comment: The Eagles finished with a flourish, winning nine of their final 10, including a game at Connecticut, en route to the conference tournament title.

4. TEXAS TECH (24-7)

Comment: The Lady Raiders play great defense and don't give up the ball. Offensively, G Alesha Robertson is the leader.

5. LOUISIANA TECH (27-2)

Comment: The Lady Techsters are the second-highest scoring team in the country, with 84 points per game, and they allow less than 60.

6. OHIO STATE (20-9)

Comment: G Caity Matter paces the nation's best team from the field, shooting better than 51 percent.

7. MINNESOTA (21-8)

Comment: The Golden Gophers tapered off after opening with 15 consecutive victories. G Lindsay Whalen's health is key.

8. OLD DOMINION (25-6)

Comment: The Monarchs recorded victories over Penn State and North Carolina before running roughshod over their conference foes.

9. MARQUETTE (21-9)

Comment: The Golden Eagles have a stingy defense and a good floor leader in Carolyn Kieger.

10. UCLA (17-11)

Comment: Very opportunistic defensively, recording 12 steals per game.

11. WEST VIRGINIA (21-10)

Comment: G Yolanda Paige averages almost eight assists per game, drive a Mountaineers team whose biggest strength is three-point shooting.

12. MONTANA (27-4)

Comment: A very good defense is complemented by decent offense.

13. MAINE (25-6)

Comment: The Black Bears' knack is defense, allowing less than 57 points per game.

14. EASTERN MICHIGAN (22-7)

Comment: G Marion Crandall is the country's sharpest three-point shooter, making 51 percent of her attempts.

15. VALPARAISO (20-11)

Comment: Only F Jenna Stangler averages in double figures in scoring.

16. NORTHWESTERN STATE (24-7)

How qualified: Southland champion

Comment: G La'Terrica Dobin is the nation's assist leader, at just under 10 per game.

MIDWEST REGIONAL

1. TENNESSEE (26-3)

Comment: As always, there is great talent here, and an early exit in the SEC Tournament should not be taken too seriously.

2. VANDERBILT (24-7)

Comment: The Commodores, the top-shooting team in the SEC this season, heated up down the stretch, winning their final eight games and the conference tournament.

3. OKLAHOMA (23-8)

Comment: The Sooners were the surprise winner of the conference tournament.

4. BAYLOR (24-8)

Comment: Sophia Young and Steffanie Blackmon are potent scorers, at better than 15 points per game.

5. FLORIDA (18-10)

Comment: The Gators closed poorly, losing five of their final seven.

6. STANFORD (24-6)

Comment: If life were fair, F Nicole Powell would be as well known nationally as Alana Beard and Diana Taurasi. If the Cardinal is to go far, however, they cannot be a one-woman show.

7. RUTGERS (21-11) Comment: Cappie Pondexter is an explosive guard and was the Big East's second-leading scorer with more than 18 points per game.

8. GEORGE WASHINGTON (22-7)

Comment: The Colonials disrupt opponents by blocking shots and making steals.

9. DEPAUL (22-6)

Comment: The Blue Demons score more points than any other team, 85.3 per game.

10. CHATTANOOGA (28-2)

Comment: The team with the best winning percentage in the nation has no player ranked in the top 50 in any major statistical category.

11. MISSOURI (17-12)

Comment: F Evan Unrau might have been the best inside player in the Big 12, with 17 points and nine rebounds.

12. NEW MEXICO (23-7)

Comment: The Lobos lead the nation in points allowed (50.8).

13. LOYOLA MARYMOUNT (24-5)

Comment: The Lions are ranked among the top 20 in points allowed.

14. MARIST (20-10)

Comment: G/F Stephanie Del Preore paces a lackluster offense.

15. LIPSCOMB (21-10)

Comment: Katie Beth Pate is tough in the post.

16. COLGATE (21-9)

Comment: Offense averages better than 70 points per game.

WEST REGIONAL

1. TEXAS (28-4)

Comment: Four players average more than 10 points, led by Tiffany Jackson.

2. PURDUE (27-3)

Comment: F Shereka Wright is the star, scoring more than 20 points per game.

3. GEORGIA (22-9)

Comment: After dismissing their leading scorer, Kara Braxton, for violating team rules, the Lady Bulldogs hit a high when they knocked Tennessee out of the SEC Tournament.

4. LOUISIANA STATE (23-7)

Comment: The Tigers might have the best guards in America in Seimone Augustus, a 19-point scorer, and Temeka Johnson, who hands out nearly eight assists per game.

5. MIAMI (22-6)

Comment: G/F Tamara James and F Chanivia Broussard each average more than 15 points per game.

6. TEXAS CHRISTIAN (24-6)

Comment: F Sandora Irvin averages a double-double.

7. VILLANOVA (22-6)

Comment: The Wildcats are probably the best slow-it-down team in the nation.

8. MICHIGAN STATE (21-8)

Comment: The Spartans are the Big Ten's best defensive team.

9. ARIZONA (24-8)

Comment: The Wildcats are solid offensively, powered by C Shawntinice Polk.

10. MISSISSIPPI (18-13)

Comment: Armintie Price leads the Rebels in scoring.

11. TEMPLE (21-9)

Comment: Any offense Temple musters is fueled by C Candice Dupree.

12. MARYLAND (17-12)

Comment: Good three-point shooting is about all the Terrapins have.

13. AUSTIN PEAY (23-7)

Comment: C Gerlonda Hardin scores 18 points per game.

14. LIBERTY (25-6)

Comment: The Lady Flames are the country's No.1 rebounding team.

15. ST. FRANCIS (PA.) (25-5)

Comment: The Red Flash feature a player in the top 35 in scoring and rebounding (C Beth Swink, 21 and 9).

16. SOUTHERN (17-12)

Comment: G Rolanda Monroe leads four players scoring in double figures.