NCAAW Top 25: Texas A&M moves into top 5 after Maryland's loss to South Carolina

Texas A&M guard Chennedy Carter (3) breaks down court for a layup against Duke during an NCAA women's basketball game on Sunday, Nov. 10, 2019, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Craft)
Chennedy Carter and her Texas A&M squad are back in the top 5. (AP)

The first Associated Press Top 25 poll of the regular season dropped Monday with a little shuffling at the top thanks to the first meeting of ranked women’s teams this season.

South Carolina got a boost with an early season statement win against Maryland. Aliyah Boston has been a huge asset for the Gamecocks two games into the season as part of the squad’s top recruiting class. South Carolina moved two spots to No. 6 while Maryland dropped from fourth to eighth.

It allowed for Texas A & M, led by Chennedy Carter, to move into the top 5 for the first time in five years. The top three of Oregon, Baylor and Stanford remain the same. Connecticut moved up a spot from fifth to fourth despite a choppy opener on Sunday.

The rankings had minimal massive movement after the first week, though there were three ranked teams to suffer losses at the hands of unranked squads. Or in Maryland’s case, one ranked higher.

Texas also lost its opener Friday night, falling to the University of South Florida, 64-57. Texas was ranked No. 15 and moved to No. 22, while USF now enters the rankings at No. 25. That allowed most of the teams under Texas to move up a spot or two.

Indiana, initially ranked No. 24, moved up to No. 21 after a win over Mt. Saint Mary’s, 75-52, and a demolition of Nicholls State on Sunday, 111-47.

Minnesota wanted an early test and got it in Missouri State last Tuesday. The Gophers bounced back with a victory against Vermont, 90-58. But the opening game caused them to drop out of the rankings.

No. 1 Oregon has yet to play its opening game, though it made a statement by defeating the U.S. National team on Saturday night. Sabrina Ionescu dropped 30 points, 20 of which came in the third quarter. The Ducks host Northeastern on Monday night.

AP TOP 25

  1. Oregon (—)

  2. Baylor (—)

  3. Stanford (—)

  4. Connecticut (+1)

  5. Texas A&M (+1)

  6. South Carolina (+2)

  7. Oregon State (—)

  8. Maryland (-4)

  9. Louisville (—)

  10. Mississippi State (—)

  11. UCLA (—)

  12. Florida State (—)

  13. Kentucky (—)

  14. N.C. State (—)

  15. Notre Dame (+1)

  16. Michigan State (+1)

  17. Miami (+1)

  18. DePaul (—)

  19. Arizona State (+1)

  20. Syracuse (+1)

  21. Indiana (+3)

  22. Texas (-7)

  23. Arkansas (-1)

  24. Michigan (+1)

  25. USF (NR)

    Receiving votes: West Virginia, Drake, Gonzaga, Rice, Missouri State, Arizona, South Dakota, Tennessee, Minnesota, Rutgers, South Dakota State, Belmont, Iowa State

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