The top five remained unchanged this week after all of the premier teams took care of business last week. However, there was a change in the top 10 as Kentucky and Tennessee both lost in SEC play, meaning there was a reshuffle in spots 8-10 of the poll. The upcoming week features a huge slate of conference tests for the top teams and one final nonconference test for No. 1 Connecticut.
The best game of the week for the nation’s elite teams was a Sunday thriller in ACC play as No. 2 Notre Dame (15-0) faced its toughest test of the season at Virginia. The Irish had just a two-point lead with 3:49 left in the contest, but got key baskets from senior forward Natalie Achonwa, who had a career-high 26 points and 16 rebounds, and senior guard Kayla McBride, who added 23 points, to preserve the 79-72 victory. The Irish easily dispatched of Boston College 95-53 at home in their only other game last week and travel to Pittsburgh on Thursday in their only contest this week.
The No. 1 Huskies (17-0) have continued to dominate and had no trouble in two conference home games last week, trouncing Houston 90-40 and Temple 80-36. Connecticut will likely have no problem dominating the AAC unless they slip up against No. 5 Louisville, although the Huskies will face one final nonconference test at No. 7 Baylor on Monday before continuing conference play.
No. 3 Duke (16-1) also had few problems dominating its conference opponents last week, cruising to an 86-53 road victory against Syracuse and pulling away from Boston College 78-57 at home despite serious foul trouble. The Blue Devils host Virginia and travel to take on Blacksburg to take on Virginia Tech this week. Duke has been making significant strides defensively thus far in conference play.
No. 4 Stanford (15-1) won two conference road games led by senior forward Chiney Ogwumike, who scored more than 30 points in both contests and was a force to be reckoned with on the glass. The Cardinal beat Utah 87-61 and held off then-No. 17 Colorado to prevail 87-77 and play at Arizona this week for the third game of a four-game road trip.
No. 5 Louisville (16-1) overcame a comeback by South Florida to earn a hard-fought 62-54 road win last week. The Cardinals were sparked by senior guard Schoni Schimmel, who notched 25 points, and take on Central Florida this week before traveling to Texas to take on SMU.
While the top teams remained unscathed, other ranked teams struggled last week, especially in the SEC. Last week’s eighth ranked team, Tennessee (13-3), suffered its second conference loss, falling 74-63 at Vanderbilt. Duke beat Vanderbilt 88-69 on Nov. 21, so if the Commodores continue playing well in the SEC, the Blue Devils will have yet another quality win to be considered in NCAA Tournament seeding.
Last week’s ninth-ranked squad, Kentucky (14-3) , also fell, losing a top-10 battle to No. 10 South Carolina (16-1) 68-59 in Columbia—the Gamecocks played suffocating defense and blocked 14 shots to earn the victory. Last week’s twelfth-ranked team, LSU, also lost, falling 52-48 to Texas A&M, and then-no. 11 Iowa State suffered its first loss of the season, falling at home 69-62 to then-No. 15 Oklahoma State.
Because of all the carnage in conference play, there was a shakeup in this week’s poll, with the Gamecocks rising to No. 8, North Carolina (14-3) climbing into the top 10 to check in at No. 9 and Kentucky falling only one spot to round out the top 10.
Game to Watch and Upset Alert: No. 1 Connecticut at No. 7 Baylor, Monday, Jan. 13, 7:00 PM—This game features two of the best players in the nation and the Bears will be putting their nation-best 69-game home winning streak on the line. Huskie sophomore forward Breanna Stewart is arguably the most versatile player in the country and Baylor senior guard Odyssey Sims has scored 48 points multiple times this season. Sims will need to put up similar numbers against Connecticut to remain undefeated at home for her career.
Key ACC Matchup: No. 17 Florida State at No. 20 North Carolina State, Thursday, Jan. 16, 7:00 PM.
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