Michigan stays put in Associated Press Top 25 women's college basketball poll

A relatively quiet week because of the holidays left The Associated Press women’s college basketball poll mostly unchanged. That includes Michigan.

The Wolverines (11-1) remained at No. 9 in this week's poll, updated Monday. Michigan, coming off a huge victory over then-No. 5 Baylor on Dec. 19, didn't play last week, with its lone game scheduled against Eastern Michigan canceled because of COVID-19 protocols in the EMU program. 

South Carolina remained the unanimous No. 1, receiving all 30 first-place votes from a national media panel. The Gamecocks staved off another challenge from a top opponent, rallying to beat No. 2 Stanford 65-61 last Tuesday. Coach Dawn Staley’s squad has beat five top-10 teams this season, including the No. 2 team twice.

The Cardinal stayed at No. 2 because of their strong showing against the Gamecocks. Louisville, Arizona and North Carolina State held their spots in the top five. In fact, the top 12 teams in the poll remained the same from the previous week.

Teams now turn their attention to conference play. The Wildcats have been off since Dec. 17 because of COVID-19 issues within the program and will open Pac-12 play against Southern California on Friday. Arizona’s game against UCLA scheduled for Sunday was postponed because the Bruins have their own coronavirus problems.

The Big Ten has two tantalizing matchups this weekend, with No. 25 Ohio State visiting ninth-ranked Michigan on Friday. No. 6 Maryland travels to No. 8 Indiana in a key early season showdown on Sunday.

The conference has three teams in the top 10 consistently this season for the first time since the early 2000s.

No. 11 UConn saw its game against Marquette scheduled for Wednesday get wiped out because of COVID-19 issues within the Golden Eagles’ program. The Huskies, whose last game was a loss to Louisville in the Women’s Hall of Fame Showcase on Dec. 19, visit DePaul on Friday.

Associated Press Top 25 women's poll

1. South Carolina (30 first-place votes), 12-0, 750 points (last week: 1)

2. Stanford, 8-3, 688 (2)

3. Louisville, 10-1, 676 (3)

4. Arizona, 10-0, 671 (4)

5. NC State, 11-2, 637 (5)

6. Maryland, 10-3, 545 (6)

7. Tennessee, 10-1, 534 (7)

8. Indiana, 10-2, 525 (8)

9. Michigan, 11-1, 517 (9)

10. Baylor, 9-2, 485 (10)

11. UConn, 6-3, 463 (11)

12. Texas, 9-1, 453 (12)

13. Georgia, 11-1, 402 (13)

14. Iowa State, 11-1, 391 (13)

15. Duke, 9-1, 303 (16)

16. Georgia Tech, 10-2, 262 (17)

17. Notre Dame, 11-2, 197 (20)

18. BYU, 10-1, 180 (19)

19. LSU, 11-1, 170 (21)

20. Kentucky, 7-3, 127 (22)

21. Iowa, 6-3, 121 (15)

22. South Florida, 9-4, 117 (18)

23. Texas A&M, 10-2, 103 (23)

24. North Carolina, 11-0, 85 (25)

25. Ohio State, 9-2, 84 (24)

Others receiving votes: Oklahoma 78, Colorado 59, Florida Gulf Coast 55, Nebraska 45, DePaul 22, Mississippi 3, Missouri State 2.