South Carolina women remain No. 1 in AP Poll

By foxsports
Published

Stanford had an unsuccessful trip east while Oregon State stayed unbeaten.

The Cardinal lost at Chattanooga and Tennessee to fall to 16th in The Associated Press women's basketball poll Monday.

It's the lowest Stanford has been in the Top 25 since Jan. 2, 2006, when the Cardinal were also 16th.

Oregon State buoyed by a big win at then-No. 6 North Carolina climbed into a tie for 10th - the highest ranking for the undefeated Beavers, who also swept a tournament in New Orleans.

While the Pac-12 schools made big moves, the top of the poll stayed relatively unchanged.

South Carolina remained No. 1 for the fifth straight week after cruising to three wins. UConn, Texas, Notre Dame and Texas A&M rounded out the first five. The Irish and Aggies switched places after Texas A&M lost to the Longhorns on Sunday.

Some notes from this week's poll:

CARDINAL STRUGGLES: Stanford had its run of 111 straight weeks in the first 10 end. The previous time the Cardinal weren't among the top 10 teams was Jan. 19, 2009.

RISING BEAVERS: Oregon State has looked impressive in all 10 of its victories this season, winning by an average of 26.8 points. The Beavers are off to the best start in school history and are one of seven unbeaten teams left in college basketball. The Beavers previous best ranking was 11th on Jan. 9, 1996.

Life doesn't get any easier with a game at No. 8 Tennessee on Sunday.

WELCOME TO THE TOP 25: Wisconsin-Green Bay and Arizona State joined the poll this week at No. 24 and No. 25 respectively. The two teams are no strangers to the Top 25 having both recently appearing in the poll. The Phoenix were ranked for most of the 2012-13 season while Arizona State spent 10 weeks in the poll last season.

Cal and DePaul fell out with the Bears losing to Louisville and the Blue Demons falling to UConn.

ANOTHER WEEK, ANOTHER TIE OR TWO: Not one but two ties exist in the poll this week with Oregon State and Duke both at No. 10 and Kentucky and Nebraska both 12th. It's the seventh straight week that there has been one. The preseason poll had two teams at No. 24. Week 1 had a three-way tie for No. 24. Then there was a three-way tie at No. 22 with Georgia, Syracuse and West Virginia sharing the honors. Arkansas and DePaul were both No. 25 the following week. Oklahoma State and Syracuse were tied for two straight weeks at 20 and then 19.

UPCOMING MATCHUPS: After a break for the holidays, there are a few solid matchups this weekend. UCLA hosts No. 4 Notre Dame on Sunday. Undefeated Georgia visits a rising Seton Hall squad on Sunday. Newly-ranked Green Bay will be tested when it visits Dayton and Oregon State heads to Knoxville to face Tennessee.

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