Jennifer
01-14-2002, 05:36 PM
UConn Women Remain Atop AP Poll
By CHUCK SCHOFFNER
AP Sports Writer
Connecticut padded the nation's only perfect record with two more lopsided victories and remained a unanimous choice for No. 1 Monday in The
Associated Press women's basketball poll, which included two newcomers.
Virginia Tech joined the poll for the first time this season at No. 21 and Arizona State returned at No. 23, replacing Tulane and Michigan. There also was
movement within the poll after a week in which members of the Top 25 lost a total of 10 games to unranked opponents.
Connecticut (18-0) was never in danger of losing and received all 43 first-place votes from a national media panel. The Huskies, who had 1,075 points,
have led every poll this season and have been a unanimous No. 1 the last two weeks.
The only unbeaten major-college team in men's or women's basketball, Connecticut defeated St. John's 84-43 and Miami 96-50 last week. UConn's
average victory margin is 38.7 points.
The top five teams in the poll stayed the same after going a collective 11-0 during the week. Tennessee (14-1) was second with 1,021 points, followed by
Oklahoma (14-1), Stanford (16-1) and Wisconsin (15-1). Wisconsin is on a school-record 14-game winning streak.
No. 6 Duke, No. 7 Vanderbilt and No. 8 South Carolina each moved up one spot. Kansas State, which entered the poll just last week, jumped five places to
ninth and Louisiana Tech climbed one spot to 10th.
Purdue was 11th and Texas 12th, followed by Baylor, Iowa State, Texas Tech, Georgia, North Carolina, Florida, Auburn and Colorado State.
Virginia Tech, Colorado, Arizona State, Old Dominion and Boston College held the final five places.
Iowa State, which was fourth two weeks ago, fell from sixth to 14th after road losses to Texas and unranked Texas A&M. Texas Tech also lost twice, to
unranked Missouri and Texas, and fell five places to 15th.
The victories over Iowa State and Texas Tech sent Texas from 16th to 12th. Only Kansas State made a bigger jump.
Colorado State gained three spots, from 23rd to 20th. The Rams had to go three overtimes to get one of their victories, 87-77 over Utah.
Virginia Tech (13-2) has won 10 straight, including a victory over Boston College last week, and is just five points from being undefeated. The Hokies'
losses were at Louisiana State, 66-65, and at Virginia, 60-58.
Virginia Tech was ranked once last season, at No. 25 in the final poll.
Arizona State (14-4) was ranked in the first three polls this season, reaching as high as 21st. The Sun Devils have won 12 of 14 since losing two straight in
late November and are the only team that has beaten Kansas State.
Tulane (14-4), 20th last week, dropped out after losing two of three. The Green Wave defeated Memphis but lost to New Orleans and Saint Louis. They had
been ranked for five weeks.
Michigan (11-6), which was 22nd last week, has lost five of six after a 10-1 start. The Wolverines had been ranked all season, reaching as high as 12th on
Dec. 24.
By CHUCK SCHOFFNER
AP Sports Writer
Connecticut padded the nation's only perfect record with two more lopsided victories and remained a unanimous choice for No. 1 Monday in The
Associated Press women's basketball poll, which included two newcomers.
Virginia Tech joined the poll for the first time this season at No. 21 and Arizona State returned at No. 23, replacing Tulane and Michigan. There also was
movement within the poll after a week in which members of the Top 25 lost a total of 10 games to unranked opponents.
Connecticut (18-0) was never in danger of losing and received all 43 first-place votes from a national media panel. The Huskies, who had 1,075 points,
have led every poll this season and have been a unanimous No. 1 the last two weeks.
The only unbeaten major-college team in men's or women's basketball, Connecticut defeated St. John's 84-43 and Miami 96-50 last week. UConn's
average victory margin is 38.7 points.
The top five teams in the poll stayed the same after going a collective 11-0 during the week. Tennessee (14-1) was second with 1,021 points, followed by
Oklahoma (14-1), Stanford (16-1) and Wisconsin (15-1). Wisconsin is on a school-record 14-game winning streak.
No. 6 Duke, No. 7 Vanderbilt and No. 8 South Carolina each moved up one spot. Kansas State, which entered the poll just last week, jumped five places to
ninth and Louisiana Tech climbed one spot to 10th.
Purdue was 11th and Texas 12th, followed by Baylor, Iowa State, Texas Tech, Georgia, North Carolina, Florida, Auburn and Colorado State.
Virginia Tech, Colorado, Arizona State, Old Dominion and Boston College held the final five places.
Iowa State, which was fourth two weeks ago, fell from sixth to 14th after road losses to Texas and unranked Texas A&M. Texas Tech also lost twice, to
unranked Missouri and Texas, and fell five places to 15th.
The victories over Iowa State and Texas Tech sent Texas from 16th to 12th. Only Kansas State made a bigger jump.
Colorado State gained three spots, from 23rd to 20th. The Rams had to go three overtimes to get one of their victories, 87-77 over Utah.
Virginia Tech (13-2) has won 10 straight, including a victory over Boston College last week, and is just five points from being undefeated. The Hokies'
losses were at Louisiana State, 66-65, and at Virginia, 60-58.
Virginia Tech was ranked once last season, at No. 25 in the final poll.
Arizona State (14-4) was ranked in the first three polls this season, reaching as high as 21st. The Sun Devils have won 12 of 14 since losing two straight in
late November and are the only team that has beaten Kansas State.
Tulane (14-4), 20th last week, dropped out after losing two of three. The Green Wave defeated Memphis but lost to New Orleans and Saint Louis. They had
been ranked for five weeks.
Michigan (11-6), which was 22nd last week, has lost five of six after a 10-1 start. The Wolverines had been ranked all season, reaching as high as 12th on
Dec. 24.