Ladies’s Energy Rankings: USC and Colorado up, Baylor down

Every little thing is hopping once more. The ESPN Energy Rankings had been snoozy just some weeks in the past, with few video games and little motion earlier than the vacations.

However an undefeated workforce misplaced for the second week in a row, leaving solely No. 1 South Carolina with an unblemished report. USC toppled beforehand unbeaten UCLA 73-65 in Spherical 2 of the “Battle of L.A.” on Sunday.

It got here simply over two weeks after Spherical 1, when the groups met at UCLA and the Bruins received 71-64. Sunday’s victory jumped the Trojans again into the Energy Rankings’ high 10 as tremendous freshman JuJu Watkins had 32 factors and 10 rebounds. She has six video games of 30 or extra factors; the report for many in a season (10) belongs to USC legend Cheryl Miller, who was watching courtside on the Galen Heart on Sunday.

The Bruins’ loss made method for an additional Pac-12 workforce to maneuver into the No. 2 spot: Colorado accomplished the climb by beating Stanford on Sunday. That additionally delayed, at the very least for yet one more recreation, Cardinal coach Tara VanDerveer tying Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski for probably the most profession teaching victories in NCAA faculty basketball historical past, as she sits at 1,201.

4 of the Energy 5 conferences now have only one workforce unbeaten in league play. However each Kansas State and Iowa State are 5-0 within the Large 12, with Baylor taking an enormous plunge within the Energy Rankings.

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FSU’s Sara Bejedi knocks down fifth 3-pointer

Sara Bejedi places up a profession excessive 31-points with 5 treys as FSU takes down Virginia Tech 89-81.

The senior guard had her two greatest video games of the season back-to-back, combining for 54 factors, 14 rebounds and 6 assists in victories over ranked groups North Carolina and Virginia Tech. She was 5-of-9 from 3-point vary in each video games. She additionally was 5-of-7 from behind the arc on Jan. 7, making her the primary Seminoles participant previously 25 years to make 5 3-pointers in three consecutive video games. Her 31 factors towards the Hokies on Sunday was her profession excessive.

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Iowa State Cyclones vs. Baylor Bears – Recreation Highlights

Watch the Recreation Highlights from Iowa State Cyclones vs. Baylor Bears, 01/13/2024

The Cyclones misplaced three starters from final season’s workforce that received the Large 12 event title, together with Ashley Joens, this system’s all-time scoring and rebounding chief. However led by the freshman duo of Audi Crooks and Addy Brown, plus the return from early-season harm of level guard Emily Ryan, Iowa State is tied for first within the convention.

This previous week, the Cyclones trailed ranked groups West Virginia and Baylor at halftime however rallied to win each video games. Crooks had a mixed 45 factors and 17 rebounds; Brown 21 factors, 19 rebounds and 13 assists.

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Auburn stuns defending champ LSU, units crowd report

Behind 21 factors from Honesty Scott-Grayson and relentless effort from JaMya Mingo-Younger, Auburn pulls off the upset vs. No. 7 LSU, 67-62, with 7,720 in attendance.

The all-Tigers matchup did not look like a lot of a contest on paper: Defending nationwide champion LSU got here in ranked No. 7 within the AP ballot with a 3-0 SEC report, whereas Auburn was 0-3. However Auburn was ready to protect LSU, which had a season low in factors, missed 11 layups and was held with no 3-pointer for the primary time in 25 video games courting to final season. JaMya Mingo-Younger additionally received an enormous steal with 9 seconds left as Angel Reese was making an attempt to attain on a drive.

Auburn received its second win over a top-10 workforce in coach Johnnie Harris’ three seasons.

Coach of the week: Lindsay Gottlieb, USC

In her third season with the Trojans, Gottlieb has achieved her half to assist convey the USC-UCLA rivalry to heights it hasn’t seen since its earliest days. She has excelled at recruiting, with Watkins the five-star gem, and at reenergizing the fan base. Even with beginning heart Rayah Marshall sidelined with an sickness Sunday, the Trojans held the Bruins to 65 factors and had only one fewer rebound than UCLA.

Energy Rankings

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Corridor displays No. 1 South Carolina win at Missouri

After hitting 8 of 10 from the sector total and all 4 of her 3-pointers within the Gamecocks’ 81-57 win over Mizzou, Bree Corridor says she knew her shot was “lethal.”

1. South Carolina Gamecocks (15-0)
Earlier rating: 1
This week: vs. Kentucky Wildcats (Monday), at Texas A&M Aggies (Sunday)

The Gamecocks received previous what typically has been a tricky journey for them previously, profitable simply within the “different” Columbia over Missouri final Thursday. Bree Corridor stood out, going 8-of-10 from the sector for 21 factors as South Carolina continues to steer Division I in scoring margin (37.3).

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Colorado Buffaloes vs. Stanford Cardinal – Recreation Highlights

Watch the Recreation Highlights from Colorado Buffaloes vs. Stanford Cardinal, 01/14/2024

2. Colorado Buffaloes (15-1)
Earlier rating: 5
This week: vs. UCLA Bruins (Friday), vs. USC Trojans (Sunday)

It is laborious to pin down a No. 2 workforce, however the Buffaloes get the nod. They opened the season in November with a marquee win over LSU and received one other one Sunday towards Stanford. That adopted Thursday’s win over Cal; Colorado leads the Pac-12 at 5-0. The Buffs’ skilled group continues to play properly collectively. The visits from the Los Angeles colleges this weekend loom massive.

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Caitlin Clark shines once more with triple-double in Iowa’s win

Caitlin Clark scores 26 factors and provides 10 rebounds and 10 assists in Iowa’s win over Purdue.

3. Iowa Hawkeyes (17-1)
Earlier rating: 7
This week: vs. Wisconsin Badgers (Tuesday), at Ohio State Buckeyes (Sunday)

A case might be made for Iowa at No. 2, because the Hawkeyes’ offense retains buzzing alongside behind Caitlin Clark. For now, we have now Iowa leaping to 3rd after Clark’s fifteenth profession triple-double led the best way to a win at Purdue and a powerful workforce 3-point efficiency (15 treys, led by Clark’s six) helped the Hawkeyes dismantle Indiana.

4. UCLA Bruins (14-1)
Earlier rating: 2
This week: at Colorado Buffaloes (Friday)

UCLA was certain to have at the very least one off recreation, and it got here towards its crosstown rival Sunday. With Lauren Betts coming off the bench as a result of sickness, the Bruins by no means actually regarded like themselves within the 73-65 loss to USC. They made simply 4 of twenty-two 3-point makes an attempt and struggled in a number of areas: 32 fouls, 22 turnovers and simply 12 assists. That is not a system for profitable. However it was only one recreation, so UCLA would not fall a lot.

5. NC State Wolfpack (15-1)
Earlier rating: 4
This week: at Miami Hurricanes (Thursday), vs Duke Blue Devils (Sunday)

Heart River Baldwin stays out with an ankle harm, however the Wolfpack bounced again from their solely loss — Jan. 7 at Virginia Tech — to beat Virginia for the second time this season. In a season filled with spectacular freshmen, here is one other one: Guard Zoe Brooks led NC State with 19 factors, the excessive of her younger profession, towards the Cavaliers.

6. USC Trojans (13-1)
Earlier rating: 13
This week: at Utah Utes (Friday), at Colorado Buffaloes (Sunday)

The Trojans made an enormous soar by knocking off UCLA even with Rayah Marshall sidelined with an sickness, displaying their protection can excel regardless of lacking a key piece. USC’s nonconference schedule wasn’t as spectacular because the Bruins’ was, however the rivals have break up their head-to-head matchups. Watkins has been the story each recreation thus far for USC, however guard McKenzie Forbes stood out, too, with 18 factors and 4 assists towards UCLA.

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Showtime! Kansas State’s block units up third quarter buzzer-beater

Serena Sundell comes away with a powerful block, then Zyanna Walker buries a 3rd quarter buzzer-beater for the Wildcats.

7. Kansas State Wildcats (17-1)
Earlier rating: 11
This week: at TCU Horned Frogs (Wednesday), vs. Kansas Jayhawks (Saturday)

Texas offered the Wildcats with their solely actual take a look at since their lone loss on Nov. 26 to Iowa. And Kansas State handed, beating the Longhorns 61-58 on Saturday after a 17-point win over Oklahoma on Wednesday. Ayoka Lee had a mixed 40 factors and 16 rebounds in these video games, and she or he’s taking pictures 67.7% from the sector.

8. UConn Huskies (14-3)
Earlier rating: 8
This week: at Seton Corridor Pirates (Wednesday), vs. DePaul Blue Demons (Saturday)

One other week, one other two Large East blowouts for the Huskies, who’re trying increasingly like typical highly effective UConn. Freshman Ashlynn Shade led the cost with 17 factors towards Windfall. Paige Bueckers had 22 factors towards St. John’s and is taking pictures 48.6% (seventh in Division I) from behind the arc.

9. LSU Tigers (16-2)
Earlier rating: 6
This week: at Alabama Crimson Tide (Thursday), vs. Arkansas Razorbacks (Sunday)

The Tigers received their sixteenth recreation in a row Thursday towards Texas A&M. However the streak ended at Auburn on Sunday. LSU hasn’t been pretty much as good of a 3-point taking pictures workforce this 12 months as final. Even so, they took simply two pictures from behind the arc (lacking each) within the loss to Auburn and in addition missed their bread-and-butter inside pictures at crunch time. They will use this defeat to refocus.

10. Stanford Cardinal (15-2)
Earlier rating: 10
This week: vs. Oregon Geese (Friday), vs. Oregon State Beavers (Sunday)

The “mountain” highway journey to Utah and Colorado tends to be a problem for Pac-12 groups, and it received to Stanford. The Cardinal escaped Utah with a 66-64 win Friday, however Colorado took management within the third quarter Sunday to beat Stanford 71-59. Cameron Brink dealt along with her previous nemesis — foul hassle — and had simply 12 factors. Nonetheless, Tara VanDerveer has an opportunity to make historical past at residence this weekend.

11. Texas Longhorns (16-2)
Earlier rating: 9
This week: vs. Kansas (Tuesday), at Oklahoma State (Saturday)

After beating TCU final Wednesday, the Longhorns ran right into a Kansas State workforce that defended them higher than anybody else has, holding Texas to a season-low 58 factors Saturday. The Longhorns shot 35.5% from the sector and 18.2% from behind the arc. We wait to see whether or not DeYona Gaston, who injured her ankle late towards the Wildcats, will play this week.

12. Ohio State Buckeyes (13-3)
Earlier rating: 16
This week: at Maryland Terrapins (Wednesday), vs. Iowa Hawkeyes (Sunday)

The Buckeyes have received three in a row since being upset at Michigan on Dec. 30, together with victories final week towards Rutgers and Michigan State. However they’ve lots to show this week, particularly of their residence showdown with Iowa.

13. Louisville Cardinals (15-2)
Earlier rating: 15
This week: at Clemson Tigers (Thursday), at North Carolina Tar Heels (Sunday)

The Cardinals are main the ACC at 4-0 after cruising final week over Pittsburgh and Wake Forest. The win over the Demon Deacons was the definition of a balanced assault, with seven gamers scoring between 9 and 12 factors. That is precisely how Louisville is profitable video games this season. Limiting foes to 58.1 factors per recreation helps, too.

14. Florida State Seminoles (14-4)
Earlier rating: NR
This week: at Syracuse Orange (Thursday), vs. Virginia Cavaliers (Sunday)

It was an enormous week for the Seminoles, who upset North Carolina and Virginia Tech to go to 5-1 within the ACC. Bejedi earned our participant of the week honor, however Makayla Timpson and Ta’Niya Latson each contributed lots as properly. Latson tied her profession excessive with 8 assists towards the Hokies.

15. Baylor Bears (14-2)
Earlier rating: 3
This week: vs. UCF Knights (Saturday)

Perhaps we’re “over-punishing” the Bears by dropping them thus far, however they’re the one AP High 25 workforce that misplaced twice final week — each to unranked groups. Kansas dominated the Bears by 21 factors on Wednesday. Saturday, Baylor led Iowa State by 8 factors at halftime, then misplaced by 3. The Bears must watch some powerful movie from each video games and transfer ahead.

16. Virginia Tech Hokies (13-3)
Earlier rating: 12
This week: at Duke Blue Devils (Thursday), vs. Clemson Tigers (Sunday)

Per week after handing NC State its first loss, the Hokies had been on the opposite aspect of an upset Sunday, shedding at Florida State. Virginia Tech did get a win final Thursday over Miami, and heart Elizabeth Kitley had one other huge week with a mixed 61 factors and 23 rebounds.

Dropped out: Indiana Hoosiers