Girls’s Energy Rankings: UConn returns to prime 5, Iowa falls

South Carolina stays firmly planted at No. 1, UCLA jumps to No. 2 and the sports activities world is celebrating the greatness and longevity of Stanford coach Tara VanDerveer. However keep watch over UConn, because the Huskies are steadily climbing in ESPN’s ladies’s school basketball Energy Rankings.

The Huskies are 8-0 within the Large East and have received 12 video games in a row total. Admittedly, their Large East video games have been snooze fests, however that is not UConn’s fault. The Huskies are used to dominating convention play, whether or not within the “outdated” Large East, the American (the place they actually by no means misplaced) or within the “new” Large East.

Now we have watched many occasions how the Huskies enhance when their competitors is difficult. May this week convey a problem? Presumably, as UConn travels to Marquette on Tuesday after which hosts Notre Dame on Saturday.

The Huskies clobbered Marquette 95-64 on New Yr’s Eve on the XL Middle in Hartford. The Golden Eagles are 4-3 within the Large East and coming off a 66-63 loss at Villanova on Wednesday. However Marquette went 11-0 in nonconference play and at the very least this time may have the home-court benefit towards the Huskies. We’ll see if it means something.

As for the Irish, they’re again within the Energy Rankings this week; their solely ACC losses are to the 2 groups atop the league: North Carolina and Syracuse. It is going to be intriguing to see two excellent guards at completely different phases of their school careers. UConn’s Paige Bueckers is having a terrific junior season whereas getting back from a knee harm, and Notre Dame’s Hannah Hidalgo is likely one of the most fun gamers in an exhilarating freshman class.

The Huskies’ losses have been to NC State and Texas on the street, and to UCLA at a impartial web site. Trying on the the rest of their schedule, they’re favored in each sport however one: Feb. 11 at South Carolina. So this week may rock the Huskies’ boat just a little — or be two extra large steps towards a extremely anticipated matchup with the Gamecocks.

The junior ahead’s profile has been rising all season, and she or he had a career-high 36 factors, together with 12 rebounds, Sunday towards Oregon State. That included her first made 3-pointers of the season. With Cameron Brink out with an harm, there was much more on Iriafen’s shoulders because the Cardinal did not wish to miss out on celebrating VanDerveer’s NCAA record-breaking victory at dwelling at Maples Pavilion.

Iriafen made certain the celebration occurred. She has led the Cardinal in scoring the previous 5 video games, together with 21 factors and 15 rebounds Friday towards Oregon.

The Lobos acquired two large Mountain West wins, handing each UNLV and Wyoming their first convention losses of the season. New Mexico topped the Cowgirls 68-61 Wednesday. Then they snapped UNLV’s 29-game successful streak towards convention foes Saturday behind Viane Cumber’s 22 factors and 7 rebounds. Cumber hit the game-winning 3-pointer within the 69-66 win over UNLV.

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Ohio State storms the courtroom after upsetting Caitlin Clark, Iowa

Ohio State outlasts Caitlin Clark and her season-high 45 factors because the Buckeyes beat Iowa in an time beyond regulation thriller.

Final season, Iowa beat then-No. 2 Ohio State on the Buckeyes’ dwelling courtroom. This time, the Hawkeyes have been the second-ranked workforce, and No. 18 Ohio State acquired the win.

Cotie McMahon (33 factors, 12 rebounds) and Jacy Sheldon (24 factors, 7 rebounds) led the way in which for Ohio State. The victory helped tighten the Large Ten race and gave the Buckeyes lots to have fun with their gutsy fourth-quarter rally. The ending of the sport, sadly, was marred when a fan ran out on the courtroom and collided with Iowa’s Caitlin Clark, who fortunately wasn’t injured.

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Tara VanDerveer’s journey to varsity basketball’s all-time wins file

Chiney Ogwumike appears to be like again at Stanford coach Tara VanDerveer’s journey in school main her to having essentially the most wins in school basketball.

Coach of the week: Tara VanDerveer, Stanford

All of the tributes paid to VanDerveer — together with from the good Mike Krzyzewski, whose NCAA victories file she broke — have been well-deserved for considered one of school sports activities’ most-revered coaches.

VanDerveer now has a 1,203-267 profession file, and her Cardinal are hoping to win this system’s twenty seventh convention regular-season title.

Energy Rankings

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Staley says No. 1 South Carolina nonetheless has work to do

Regardless of yet one more win — this time 99-64 over Texas A&M — Daybreak Staley says the top-ranked Gamecocks proceed to hunt enchancment as date with LSU looms forward.

1. South Carolina Gamecocks (17-0)
Earlier rating: 1
This week: at LSU Tigers (Thursday), vs. Vanderbilt Commodores (Sunday)

In SEC play, nobody has come near the Gamecocks, who’re successful convention video games by 34.6 factors. That features blowouts final week towards Kentucky and Texas A&M. What might be South Carolina’s hardest check within the league comes up this week, because the Gamecocks journey to LSU on Thursday (8 p.m. ET, ESPN/ESPN App).

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UCLA shines down the stretch to defeat Colorado

No. 5 UCLA makes the performs down the stretch to go on the street and beat No. 3 Colorado.

2. UCLA Bruins (15-1)
Earlier rating: 4
This week: at Utah Utes (Monday), vs. Washington Huskies (Friday), vs. Washington State Cougars (Sunday)

One week after dropping out of the No. 2 spot after a loss at USC, the Bruins are again with a 76-68 street win Friday earlier than a packed home at Colorado. Guard Charisma Osborne led the way in which offensively with 22 factors, whereas Lauren Betts and Angela Dugalic mixed for 26 of the Bruins’ 44 rebounds. One other check within the mountains comes Monday (7 p.m. ET, ESPN2/ESPN App) at Utah in a busy week for UCLA.

3. Colorado Buffaloes (16-2)
Earlier rating: 2
This week: at Oregon State Beavers (Friday), at Oregon Geese (Sunday)

The Buffaloes acquired a record-setting crowd for his or her matchup with UCLA final Friday. Whereas the sport did not go their approach, they bounced again Sunday to defeat USC 63-59 behind Quay Miller’s 19 factors and 12 rebounds. But it surely’s a difficult subsequent month for Colorado, which has seven of its subsequent 9 video games on the street, together with the following 4 in a row.

4. Kansas State Wildcats (18-1)
Earlier rating: 7
This week: at Baylor Bears (Monday), vs. BYU Cougars (Saturday)

The Wildcats acquired dangerous information, as star middle Ayoka Lee is anticipated to be out the following 4 weeks attributable to ankle surgical procedure. As a result of TCU forfeited its sport towards Ok-State on Wednesday (not sufficient gamers obtainable), the Wildcats had one sport: the Sunflower Showdown with Kansas on Saturday. Ok-State received 69-58 behind Serena Sundell’s 15 factors, seven assists and 6 rebounds. She and her teammates might want to maintain arising large till Lee returns.

5. UConn Huskies (16-3)
Earlier rating: 8
This week: at Marquette Golden Eagles (Tuesday), vs. Notre Dame Preventing Irish (Saturday)

The Huskies cruised previous Seton Corridor and DePaul; they’ve received their Large East video games by a mean of almost 35 factors. In league play, 4 of the Huskies’ 5 starters are capturing 50% or higher from the sphere, led by Bueckers at 61.9%.

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Caitlin Clark addresses being ‘blindsided’ by court-storming fan

Caitlin Clark recounts her collision with a fan that stormed the courtroom after Ohio State’s win over Iowa.

6. Iowa Hawkeyes (18-2)
Earlier rating: 3
This week: vs. Nebraska Cornhuskers (Saturday)

The Hawkeyes appeared in fine condition for his or her sixteenth win in a row, however the sport acquired away from them within the fourth quarter at Ohio State, resulting in an time beyond regulation loss. Hannah Stuelke, who missed Iowa’s win over Wisconsin with an harm Tuesday, appeared a bit rusty and was 4-of-12 from the sphere. Clark had 45 factors — her eleventh profession sport of 40 factors or extra. The Hawkeyes made essentially the most of studying from their solely different loss, Nov. 16 vs. Kansas State. We’ll see in the event that they do the identical with this.

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Williams expresses appreciation for LSU’s religion in her

After scoring a game-high 21 factors to tempo the No. 10 Tigers in a 99-68 rout of Arkansas, Mikaylah Williams says her teammates knew she had the new hand early.

7. LSU Tigers (18-2)
Earlier rating: 9
This week: vs. South Carolina Gamecocks (Thursday)

The Tigers bounced again from their upset loss at Auburn with victories over Alabama and Arkansas. Angel Reese had a mixed 36 factors and 33 rebounds to steer LSU. Subsequent up is the most important showdown within the SEC this season, because the top-ranked Gamecocks go to.

8. NC State Wolfpack (16-2)
Earlier rating: 5
This week: at Clemson Tigers (Thursday), at Boston Faculty Eagles (Sunday)

After a tough 73-59 loss at Miami on Thursday during which the Wolfpack shot simply 28.1%, NC State rebounded with a 72-57 win at Duke on Sunday. Guard Aziaha James had a career-high 33 factors towards the Blue Devils. Extra excellent news for the Wolfpack: Middle River Baldwin returned towards Duke (six factors) after lacking the previous three video games with an ankle harm.

9. Stanford Cardinal (17-2)
Earlier rating: 10
This week: at Arizona State Solar Devils (Friday), at Arizona Wildcats (Sunday)

It was an emotional weekend celebrating VanDerveer, but in addition an essential one within the Pac-12 standings. The victories over Oregon and Oregon State put the Cardinal at 6-1 and tied with Colorado for the league lead. Together with Iriafen’s mixed 57 factors and 27 rebounds, the Cardinal acquired 27 factors and 14 assists from Talana Lepolo.

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Tara VanDerveer reflective, humbled after wins file

Stanford coach Tara VanDerveer displays on her profession after breaking Mike Krzyzewski’s file for essentially the most wins in NCAA hoops historical past.

10. Ohio State Buckeyes (15-3)
Earlier rating: 12
This week: at Illinois Preventing Illini (Thursday), at Purdue Boilermakers (Sunday)

The Buckeyes have received 5 in a row since an upset loss at Michigan on Dec. 30. They did not cease Iowa on Sunday with their common relentless press. However by the fourth quarter, they began to put on down the Hawkeyes’ offense, plus acquired some clutch capturing themselves to ship the sport into time beyond regulation, the place they prevailed.

11. Texas Longhorns (18-2)
Earlier rating: 11
This week: vs. Oklahoma Sooners (Wednesday), vs. Cincinnati Bearcats (Saturday)

The Longhorns dominated Kansas 91-56 and outlasted Oklahoma State 76-66 final week. They proceed to get sturdy play from Madison Booker, one other of the excellent freshmen this season. She had a mixed 34 factors, 11 rebounds and 11 assists within the two video games.

12. USC Trojans (13-3)
Earlier rating: 6
This week: vs. Washington State Cougars (Friday), vs. Washington Huskies (Sunday)

After their large win over crosstown rival UCLA on Jan. 14, the Trojans had a difficult journey to the mountains. They fell at Utah 78-58 after which at Colorado 63-59. Freshman JuJu Watkins had a mixed 46 factors however fouled out for the primary time in her younger profession towards the Buffaloes.

13. Indiana Hoosiers (16-2)
Earlier rating: NR
This week: vs. Northwestern Wildcats (Sunday)

The Hoosiers topped Minnesota 85-62 behind Mackenzie Holmes’ 32 factors, after which beat Purdue 74-68 regardless of Sydney Parrish (foot harm) being sidelined. Defensive stopper Chloe Moore-McNeil had a career-high 20 factors to assist make up for Parrish’s absence.

14. North Carolina Tar Heels (14-5)
Earlier rating: NR
This week: vs. Miami Hurricanes (Thursday), at Virginia Cavaliers (Sunday)

Victories at Georgia Tech and at dwelling towards Louisville final week propelled the Tar Heels right into a first-place tie with Syracuse for the ACC lead at 6-1. Deja Kelly led the way in which with a mixed 50 factors and 10 assists. UNC’s difficult nonconference schedule is paying off with how the Heels are doing in league play.

15. Louisville Cardinals (16-3)
Earlier rating: 13
This week: vs. Boston Faculty Eagles (Thursday), vs. Pittsburgh Panthers (Sunday)

The Cardinals defeated Clemson 81-64 Thursday, however then fell for the primary time in ACC play this season with a 79-68 loss at North Carolina on Sunday. Keys have been rebounding (the Cardinals misplaced the battle 42-28) and free throw capturing. Louisville was simply 12-of-23 from the road — 11 misses in an 11-point defeat.

16. Notre Dame Preventing Irish (14-3)
Earlier rating: NR
This week: vs. Syracuse Orange (Thursday), at UConn Huskies (Saturday)

Final week, Notre Dame beat Virginia and Wake Forest, with Hidalgo getting a mixed 44 factors, 13 assists and 9 steals. The Irish’s solely ACC losses are to the present top-two groups within the league: North Carolina and Syracuse. This week, Notre Dame will get one other probability on the Orange, this one at dwelling.

Dropped out: Florida State, Virginia Tech, Baylor