UConn is back in a familiar place: first in the Associated Press women’s college basketball survey.
For the ninth consecutive season, the Huskies reached the peak of the female AP Top 25, receiving 26 first-place votes from a 30-member national media panel on Monday.
Coach Geno Auriemma’s team beat South Carolina’s former No. 1 in overtime a week ago in a 1-on-2 match. Gamecocks fell from one position to second in the survey. They received two votes for first place.
This is the third consecutive week that there is a different number 1 team in the vote. This has not happened since 2012-13, when Stanford, UConn and Baylor took a lap in the first position. There have not been four consecutive weeks with different No. 1s since 2004.
UConn is now in first place for at least a week each season since 2012-13. Stanford and South Carolina have the next longest active streak at two years.
“It becomes a little more meaningful or significant when you see some programs and where they were nine years ago and where they are today,” said Auriemma. “You are grateful when you see how difficult other really good programs are (don’t do that). This brings a sense of, yes, we are lucky to put ourselves in that position every year. “
The Huskies have been at the top of the poll 246 times since their first appearance there on January 17, 1995.
Louisville, North Carolina State and Texas A&M complete the top five teams. The Aggies switched places with Stanford. Texas A&M (19-1) went 7-0 against qualified teams this year.
The cardinal came in sixth, followed by Baylor, UCLA, Maryland and Arizona to complete the first 10. The Aggies and the cardinal each had a first place vote.
The NCAA on Monday night will reveal the top 16 finishers for the NCAA Tournament at this time of the season.
Here are some other snacks from the poll:
RUNNING AWAY
UConn’s 246 appearances at the top of the poll are more than double the nearest team, Tennessee. Lady Vols have been there 112 times, most recently in 2008.
RECORDIST
Maryland coach Brenda Frese won her 500th win at school, overtaking Chris Weller, who won 499 games from 1975-2002. Frese, in his 19th season at the helm of Terps, is 500-130 after Sunday’s victory in Nebraska.
“I spoke to her last week and I already have a message from her,” said Frese after the game. “I can’t say enough about your grace and dignity. She was so proud that I was going to overtake her.
“We both know that records are meant to be broken. ″
GAME OF THE WEEK
South Carolina in Tennessee, Thursday. Gamecocks have won 31 consecutive games from the Southeast Conference and will try to maintain that sequence.
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More women’s college basketball AP: https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketball and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25