What a week of women’s college basketball. West Virginia pulled off one of the most epic wins in recent memory, Michigan proved its young core is ready for anything and UConn is still the best team in the country – by quite a bit.
The Huskies destroyed an Ohio State team that sits just outside the top-25, 100-68, thanks to another monster performance from Player of the Year frontrunner Sarah Strong. The sophomore forward finished with 29 points, 13 rebounds, 7 assists, 5 steals and 3 blocks, all without committing a turnover. With strong leading the way, the Huskies stand out as the favorites to win another NCAA title, but they are far from the only team that made waves this week.
Here’s how I voted in this week’s AP Poll, with last week’s rankings in parentheses.
3. South Carolina (3)
Dropped out: Duke (7), Kansas State (23), Notre Dame (24)
Almost famous: Belmont, Richmond, Fairfield, Princeton, Columbia, Stanford, Minnesota
Notes on the votes:
TCU: Mark Campbell has built another contender. TCU was tested by NC State, but managed to pull off a 69-59 victory. Despite starting four players who didn’t play for the Horned Frogs last season, this team already has chemistry and balance. Against NC State it was Marta Suarez who led the way with 26 points on 10 of 18 shooting, including a 4 of 8 performance from beyond the arc. Campbell also continues to get the most out of his players. Last season Hailey Van Lith was brought to tears after posting a career high in assists. Against NC State, point guard Olivia Miles corralled 13 rebounds – just one shy of her career high – proving her ability to impact the game without needing the ball in her hands. It’s early, but the Horned Frogs look comfortable and confident. It’s going to be exciting to watch how this team continues to develop.
Michigan: There are few teams in the country that have as much chemistry as this Michigan squad. Led by the sophomore trio of Mila Holloway, Syla Swords and Olivia Olson, the Wolverines dominated Notre Dame for their first top-25 win of the season. Michigan was able to hold Notre Dame’s Hannah Hidalgo in check – she went 4 of 21 from the field – thanks to an intense team defense where everyone did their part on double-teams and traps. The Wolverines forced 18 turnovers, scoring 22 points in the fast break. The scariest thing about this Michigan team is that anyone can go off at any time. Their Big Three lead the way, but 6-foot-3 Buckenell transfer Ashley Sofilkanich was also impressive with 10 points on 5 of 6 shooting, and four players came off the bench to contribute 7 or more points. Their team-oriented style of play was particularly obvious against a Notre Dame squad that relies on Hidalgo to do everything. This time, team play won out – big time.
Maryland: Before the season started, Maryland’s point guard spot was in question. For the first time in four years, the Terrapins don’t have Shyanne Sellers to rely on. It took just five games for freshman Addi Mack to prove that she’s the woman for the job. Mack was set to split time with fellow first-year Lea Bartelme, but the latter tore her ACL in a win over Towson in her team’s fourth game of the season. Luckily for Maryland, Mack doesn’t need any help. In her last three games, Mack is averaging 17.7 points and 3.3 assists per game. Her quick adjustment to the college level has been crucial for Maryland, especially while last season’s leading scorer, Kaylene Smikle continues to work her way back to form after a leg injury kept her off the court for Marylannd’s first four games.
USC: The Trojans follow up last Sunday’s win over NC State with a 69-52 loss to South Carolina. While Kennedy Smith had a solid game and freshman Jazzy Davidson continues to show her potential, the Trojans were overwhelmed by the Gamecocks. There was a clear advantage in the paint for South Carolina, as Joyce Edwards scored 17 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. Meanwhile, 6-foot-6 center Medina Okot only scored six points, but came up with 15 rebounds to help South Carolina to a 56-32 advantage on the glass. USC has potential, but the Trojans are young and inexperienced, particularly at the post position.
West Virginia: The Mountaineers have talent, yes, but they earn a spot in my AP Poll with heart alone. After a scuffle at the end of the first half of their win against Duke, all but five Mountaineers were ejected. Of the five remaining, one had played just two minutes in the first half, and another hadn’t seen the court. Yet they remained poised, while Duke got more and more flustered. Guard Sydney Shaw led the way with 16 points, while forward Celia Riviere – who played two minutes in the first half – was a force in the paint, finishing with 12 points and 8 rebounds. If the Mountaineers can upset a top-15 team with just five players, imagine what they can do going forward with a full roster.
Washington: Washington has been on the cusp of my top-25 since the season started, and a big win over a Utah squad that’s also knocking on the door of being ranked, officially earns the Huskies a spot. Junior guard Sayvia Sellers has been sensational to start the season, averaging 23.3 points per game, nearly a ten-point increase from last season’s average. The Huskies have played their first three games without senior guard Elle Ladine, who led them in scoring last season with 17 points per game. The Huskies first real test comes against USC on Dec. 7. If Ladine is healthy, it will give us an idea of how good Washington really is.
Duke: I gave Duke a lot of grace after its loss to Baylor in the season-opener, even keeping the Blue Devils in the top-10, because I believed in the talent on this roster. Plus, I wanted to see how Duke looked with freshman Emilee Skinner, who missed that game with injury. I still think Skinner will develop into one of the country’s best guards, and I still see potential in this Duke team. But, the loss to West Virginia was so inexcusable that I had to drop Duke out of my rankings completely. Don’t get me wrong, the Mountaineers are a good team – that’s evidenced in their No. 21 ranking in my poll – but it’s the way Duke lost that I find concerning. The Blue Devils showed no fight or heart in the loss. This team needs to do some soul-searching.
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