South Carolina's women's basketball team continues to impress as they navigate through a challenging stretch of their conference schedule. The Gamecocks maintained their position as the No. 2 team in The Associated Press women's basketball Top 25 rankings, even gaining a first-place vote to close in on top-ranked UCLA.
Currently in the midst of a five-game series against ranked opponents, South Carolina has showcased their dominance on the court. They secured victories over Texas by 17 points, Alabama by 18 points, and a remarkable 41-point win over Oklahoma on Sunday. Upcoming matchups include facing off against No. 5 LSU on Thursday and No. 17 Tennessee on January 27.
UCLA received 27 first-place votes this week, with No. 3 Notre Dame receiving the remaining two. USC maintained its position at No. 4 in the rankings.
Following LSU in the rankings are UConn, Texas, and Maryland. Notably, TCU and Kansas State moved up to ninth and 10th place, respectively, after losses by Ohio State and Oklahoma. Unfortunately, Kansas State's Ayoka Lee will be sidelined indefinitely due to a fractured bone in her foot.
In other news, Tennessee suffered a rare loss at Vanderbilt, marking their first defeat at the venue since 2014. Penn State secured a significant victory over Ohio State, their first win against a ranked team since February 2021. Additionally, Michigan re-entered the rankings at No. 24.
Looking at the conference breakdown, the Southeastern Conference and Big Ten each have seven teams ranked this week, closely followed by the ACC with six teams. The Big 12 now has four ranked teams, while the Big East has just one.
Baylor made a notable entry into the rankings after a five-game winning streak, including a victory over Utah. However, they faced a tough loss to No. 1 UCLA in the Coretta Scott King Classic. Baylor's upcoming challenge includes a matchup against No. 9 TCU.
Key games to watch this week include No. 5 LSU taking on No. 2 South Carolina in a highly anticipated showdown between two top SEC teams. Additionally, No. 8 Maryland will face off against No. 12 Ohio State as they aim to bounce back from their recent loss.
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Sources: AP Top 25 Women's College Basketball Poll and Women's College Basketball News
