South Carolina has been performing impressively throughout its challenging conference schedule, maintaining its position as the second-ranked team in the latest women’s basketball Top 25 rankings. The Gamecocks gained a bit of momentum by securing one first-place vote, narrowing the gap with the top-ranked UCLA team.
Currently, South Carolina is navigating a tough stretch of five consecutive games against ranked opponents. To date, they have achieved significant victories: defeating Texas by 17 points, Alabama by 18 points, and most recently, Oklahoma by an astounding 41 points on Sunday. Looking ahead, the Gamecocks are set to face No. 5 LSU this Thursday and No. 17 Tennessee on January 27.
In this week’s polling, UCLA garnered 27 first-place votes, while No. 3 Notre Dame received the remaining two. The University of Southern California maintained its fourth position in the rankings. Following LSU, the rankings included UConn, Texas, and Maryland. Texas faced off against Maryland later on Monday in the Coretta Scott King Classic. Moreover, TCU and Kansas State climbed to the ninth and tenth positions, respectively, following setbacks for Ohio State and Oklahoma. Kansas State disclosed on Monday that Ayoka Lee has been ruled out indefinitely after an X-ray and MRI detected a fractured bone in her foot, an injury sustained during Sunday’s match against Arizona State.
Other noteworthy occurrences include Tennessee experiencing a loss at Vanderbilt for the first time since 2014, and Penn State earning a victory over Ohio State, marking its first win against a ranked team since February 2021. Additionally, Michigan re-entered the rankings at No. 24.
Regarding the conference representation in the rankings, both the Southeastern Conference and the Big Ten boast seven teams this week, with the Atlantic Coast Conference trailing closely with six. After the exits of Utah and Oklahoma State, the Big 12 now features four ranked teams, while the Big East remains with just one.
Baylor made an entrance into the rankings for the first time since the third week of the season. The Bears have secured five consecutive victories, including a triumph over then-No. 23 Utah last week. However, the upcoming week poses a challenge for Baylor, as they faced No. 1 UCLA later Monday in the Coretta Scott King Classic, where they lost 72-57. The Bears will then visit No. 9 TCU on the following Sunday.
Highlighted games for the week include No. 5 LSU visiting No. 2 South Carolina this Thursday. Undefeated, the Tigers will aim to best the Gamecocks in this pivotal SEC matchup. Additionally, No. 8 Maryland will face off against No. 12 Ohio State on Thursday, as the Buckeyes seek to recover from their first season loss while hosting the Terrapins. Maryland will also welcome No. 1 UCLA for a game on Sunday.
