The late basket by Haley Jones put the Cardinal in the lead. The top three teams in the power rankings have not changed since Ohio State moved into the third spot. There were times when it looked as if there might be a change at the top. The USC won by seven, the Cardinal won by four and the Ohio State won by six. The only loss among the three is by South Carolina. The top five didn't fare as well as they could have. Notre Dame fell to a team that was trying to get its first win in the conference. LSU cracked the Power Rankings' top five for the first time this season as a result of the Fighting Irish loss. LSU, South Carolina and Ohio State are the only remaining teams that have not lost a game. Duke and Maryland have entered the Power Rankings for the first time. In the midst of all this is the University of Connecticut, which is in the top five but is without coach Geno Auriemma because of an illness and had a game postponed on Sunday. If the top three teams had lost on Sunday, would the Huskies ascend to the top spot on the same day they didn't have a single player available to play? We didn't have to make that decision because the three teams held on. Some big week-to-week changes among our 16 won't be a surprise. As time runs out in the third quarter, Sarah Andrews makes a 3-pointer. The junior guard had a big week. In a physical, foul-plagued game at Oklahoma, she was the difference as she scored 30 points. In a 75-62 win at Kansas, the Jayhawks' Brandon Schneider said that Andrews was the best player on the floor. In the two victories, he was 18 of 36 from the field. "I'm pretty confident as a scorer now, but it's really about doing whatever we need to do to win," said Andrews, who is leading the Bears in scoring with 15.3 points per game. I can have four points and 10 assists in the next game. I don't want to lose. I'm not interested in what it takes. Boston College defeated NC State by a final score of 81-71. The Eagles defeated a top 10 team for the first time in more than two years on Thursday. Boston College followed that up with a win over Florida State. In that overtime decision, he again led the way with 21 points, 14 rebound and 4 steals. The layin was made by Haley Cavinder. Miami beat ranked teams back-to-back in the conference. The first win was over North Carolina. On Sunday, Virginia Tech was defeated 77-66. After three losses in a row, the Hurricanes' spirits were up. The University of Miami lost by three points in overtime to the University of Florida. Miami was defeated by Notre Dame 66-63. The Hurricanes started the campaign at 6-7. They got back on track with a New Year's Day win at Pitt. The Bears have won the Big 12 regular-season title in each of the last 10 years. The Bears were picked to finish fourth in the league after they lost NaLyssa Smith and Queen Egbo. Two transfers that were supposed to make a big difference are not playing. Aijha has only played five games this season due to a leg injury. The person is not eligible. That created a social media stir this past week when she blamed Kentucky coach Elzy, who in turn explained that she did not want to sign an NCAA document. There is now a lot of bad blood between these programs. The Bears are in the lead of the Big 12 after winning at Oklahoma and Kansas. 1. South Carolina Gamecocks (16-0)
Previous ranking:
This week: at Kentucky (Thursday), vs. Missouri (Sunday)
Player of the Week: Sarah Andrews, Baylor
Win of the Week: Boston College 79, No. 10 NC State 71
Coach of the Week: Katie Meier, Miami
Team of the Week: Baylor
Power Rankings
The Gamecocks beat Mississippi State on the road on Sunday and it was their first real test in awhile. Their specialties are defense and rebound. Sania Feagin, a reserve forward, was out on Sunday with a leg injury that was described as day-to- day. In the last week, South Carolina defeated Georgia andAuburn. This Sunday, 1 p.m., is the time. The only team to beat the South Carolina in the regular season was Missouri.
2. Stanford Cardinal (16-1)
Previous ranking:
This week: at UCLA (Friday), at USC (Sunday)
Haley Jones had 18 points and 16 rebound in the Cardinal's win over Arizona last week. They got a scare when they traveled to face Cal. The Cardinal were able to keep their winning streak alive thanks to Brink's 25 points and 17 rebound. The 60 points and 32.4% shooting were both season lows.
Rebeka Mikulasikova made history by draining a triple.
3. Ohio State Buckeyes (17-0)
Previous ranking:
This week: at Nebraska (Saturday)
The resilience of the Buckeyes has been excellent. They were down 61-55 after three quarters against Minnesota, but came back to win by 12. They were down 17 at the end of the third quarter. Ohio State erased the deficit with a 25-8 run and went on to win. The two victories were won by Taylor Mikesell.
4. UConn Huskies (13-2)
Previous ranking:
This week: at St. John's (Wednesday), vs. Georgetown (Sunday)
Injuries and illness have been a challenge for the University of Connecticut. The game that was supposed to be played on Sunday was postponed because there were not enough players for the team. There needs to be at least seven scholarship players on a team. Two more people have been added to the injury list. We will have to see if they can play. Is Azzi Fudd going to come back?
Angel Reese had a big game as LSU beat Texas A&M.
5. LSU Tigers (16-0)
Previous ranking:
This week: at Missouri (Thursday), vs. Auburn (Sunday)
Angel Reese is in the running for the national player of the year. Reese extended her double-double streak to 16 with a combined 52 points and 41 rebound in the victories over Texas A&M and Kentucky. Lauren Jackson's mother, Maree Jackson, had held the LSU single-game record for boards since the 1970s.
6. Indiana Hoosiers (14-1)
Previous ranking:
This week: vs. Maryland (Thursday), vs. Wisconsin (Sunday)
The Hoosiers got a big lift Sunday as super senior guard Grace Berger was back in action for the first time since hurting her knee in November. The All-Big Ten star had 16 points and five assists as Indiana won on the road against Northwestern. One of the most efficient players in the country is the Indiana player, who shot 68.4% from the field.
7. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (12-2)
Previous ranking:
This week: vs. Wake Forest (Thursday), at Syracuse (Sunday)
It was difficult for the Irish to go to North Carolina for the game. It was the first time in almost two decades that the Heels went 0-4 to start the conference season. Notre Dame went 2-of-22 from 3-point range and had its lowest point total of the season at 60.
8. Maryland Terrapins (13-3)
Previous ranking:
This week: at Indiana (Thursday), vs. Rutgers (Sunday)
The Terrapins beat Rutgers and Michigan State last week and have won six in a row. It seems like a long time ago that we were humiliated at home by the Nebraska Cornhuskers. This week's marquee Big Ten clash between Indiana and Maryland will be a chance for the Terrapins to add to their impressive list of wins.
Kennedy Brown made a good move.
9. Duke Blue Devils (14-1)
Previous ranking:
This week: vs. Clemson (Thursday), at Georgia Tech (Sunday)
The Blue Dukes had no letdown after their recent wins over NC State and Louisville vaulted them into the Power Rankings. They beat Wake Forest by a score of 60-50. Duke's defense is among the best in the country. Only one opponent has scored 60 points this season, and that was a 78-50 loss to the University of Connecticut.
10. Utah Utes (14-1)
Previous ranking:
This week: vs. Arizona State (Friday), vs. Arizona (Sunday)
For the first time this season, the Utes moved into the Power Rankings top 10. Colorado defeated them 77-67 on the road on Friday. The teams met in Salt Lake City in December and Utah won. The Utahs shot 39.3% and lost the turnover battle 21-15. The Utes are still in the top 10.
Sontag made a great play on the ball.
11. UCLA Bruins (14-2)
Previous ranking:
This week: vs. Stanford (Friday), vs. Cal (Sunday)
After missing UCLA's loss to Oregon State on New Year's Day due to a shoulder injury, the senior guard returned to action. She had nine points, seven rebound and four assists as the Bruins beat USC for the second time this year. Both games were very close. The Bruins were able to overcome shooting 30.6% because of their 40-29 edge in rebound. They will need to be better if they want to upset the Cardinal.
12. Iowa Hawkeyes (12-4)
Previous ranking:
This week: vs. Northwestern (Wednesday), vs. Penn State (Saturday)
The Hawkeyes had a week to prepare for the Illinois game. They beat Michigan for the first time in four years. This time forward/center Monika Czinano led in assists with a career-high eight, but it was guard Caitlin Clark who led in points with 28 and eight boards. This was a big victory for Iowa and they are now 4-1 in the Big Ten.
Arizona took a four-point lead late in the fourth as Jade Loville and Cate Reese scored.
13. Arizona Wildcats (14-2)
Previous ranking:
This week: at Colorado Buffaloes (Friday), at Utah (Sunday)
The loss at home to the Jayhawks kept the Cats out of the rankings. Since that time, Arizona has won seven of eight, with the only loss coming last week. The Oregon State and the Oregon Ducks were beaten by the Wildcats.
14. NC State Wolfpack (13-3)
Previous ranking:
This week: at Florida State Seminoles (Thursday), at North Carolina (Sunday)
Diamond Johnson was back on the floor, and it was great to see him. She came back from injury but it wasn't enough in the loss to Boston College. She was one of five NC State players who scored in the victory over Virginia. The power rankings might be challenged for the NC State.
15. Baylor Bears (12-3)
Previous ranking:
This week: vs. Oklahoma State (Wednesday), at West Virginia (Sunday)
It was a big week for the Bears with their victories at Oklahoma and Kansas. In both games, the guard play was great, but Bickle was the key. Against the Sooners, she had 10 points and 10 rebound, and then 12 and 12 against the Jayhawks, and she held Taiyanna Jackson to just eight points.
16. Iowa State Cyclones (10-3)
Previous ranking:
This week: vs. Kansas State (Wednesday) at Texas (Sunday)
It was a difficult day for Iowa State after their 20-point win over West Virginia. In a loss on the road against Oklahoma, centerStephanie Soares was injured in the first minute. It's a big blow to Iowa State, which added Soares to a group that made the Sweet 16 last year. The Iowa State women's basketball player carried a heavy load for the team and did it again on Sunday with 27 points.
Virginia Tech was knocked out.
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