Women's AP Top 25: South Carolina, UCLA, NC State lead the way again
South Carolina coach Dawn Staley has found a way for her team to avoid early season upsets despite losing all five starters from last year's Final Four squad.
The Gamecocks remained the unanimous choice at No. 1 in The Associated Press Top 25 women's basketball poll on Monday, receiving all 36 first-place votes from a national media panel. Staley's team has already beaten four ranked opponents, and she thinks the Gamecocks are only starting to figure themselves out.
"We are only going to get better," Staley said after her team beat No. 11 Utah. "That’s the thing. I think this is the worst we’re going to be. And we’re just in December."
UCLA, North Carolina State, Iowa and Texas followed the Gamecocks in the Top 25. USC, LSU, Colorado, Stanford and Baylor rounded out the top 10. It was the first time this season that the top 10 teams were unchanged in the poll after a series of upsets.
While many teams have started their break for exams, the Gamecocks and Bruins were part of the Hall of Fame Women's Showcase tripleheader on Sunday that featured six ranked teams. UCLA topped then-No. 20 Florida State, which fell to 22nd in the poll. No. 17 UConn beat now-No. 25 North Carolina in the nightcap following the Gamecocks' win.
UNLV and Miami (Fla.) entered the Top 25 for the first time this season. The Rebels came in at No. 23 and the Hurricanes at 24. Penn State and Washington State dropped out.
Kansas State continues to climb the poll, moving up to No. 12. It's the Wildcats' best ranking since the team was eighth in the final poll of the 2004 season. Kansas State's only loss came against Iowa in a Thanksgiving tournament, 10 days after the Wildcats beat the Hawkeyes. Jeff Mittie's team doesn't face another ranked opponent until a home game against Texas on Jan. 13.
Here's the full top 25:
1. South Carolina
2. UCLA
3. North Carolina State
4. Iowa
5. Texas
6. USC
7. LSU
8. Colorado
9. Stanford
10. Baylor
11. Utah
12. Kansas State
13. Ohio State
14. Notre Dame
15. Indiana
16. Virginia Tech
17. UConn
18. Louisville
19. Marquette
20. Creighton
21. Gonzaga
22. Florida State
23. UNLV
24. Miami (Fla.)
25. North Carolina
Reporting by The Associated Press.
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