UCLA jumps to No. 1 after knocking off South Carolina

Field Level Media|published: Mon 25th November, 13:12 2024

Nov 24, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; UCLA Bruins pose for the video cameras after defeating #1 ranked South Carolina Gamecocks at Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-Imagn Images

UCLA vaulted to No. 1 in the Associated Press Top 25 women's college basketball poll Monday for the first time in school history after dethroning South Carolina.

The Bruins (5-0) received 20 of the 32 first-place ballots and climbed four spots following Sunday's 77-62 defeat of the defending national champion Gamecocks, ending their 43-game winning streak.

"I think the piece that really hits me is that we're doing something for the first time in school history and we shared it with decades of alumni," UCLA coach Cori Close said Monday. "It was great to have so many alumni in our locker room to share it with. The people that blazed the trail for us we're walking in is really special."

UConn (4-0) remained at No. 2 and received nine votes for first place and Notre Dame (5-0) moved up three places and earned the other three votes. South Carolina (5-1) fell to No. 4 after being No. 1 in each of the past 23 polls.

No. 5 Texas (4-0) dropped one spot this week. Southern California (4-1), LSU (6-0), Oklahoma (5-0), Kansas State (5-0) and Maryland (6-0) round out the top 10.

The rest of the women's Top 25:

11. Ohio State (5-0)

12. West Virginia (6-0)

13. Duke (5-1)

14. Kentucky (5-0)

15. Iowa State (5-1)

16. North Carolina (5-1)

17. TCU (6-0)

18. Ole Miss (3-1)

19. Illinois (5-0)

20. North Carolina State (3-2)

21. Oregon (6-0)