South Carolina keeps grip on No. 1 in AP women’s poll as top teams stumble

South Carolina guard Raven Johnson (25) waves to the LSU home crowd as she walks of the court after an NCAA college basketball game in Baton Rouge, La., Thursday, Jan. 25, 2024. South Carolina won 76-70. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

(AP)– South Carolina remained the clear No. 1 team in the country and No. 2 Kansas State matched its best ranking ever after a chaotic week that saw nearly half of the AP Top 25 lose at least one game.

The Gamecocks received all 35 first-place votes Monday in the latest Associated Press women’s basketball poll after their 76-70 road victory over then-No. 9 LSU.

While Dawn Staley’s team stayed unbeaten, many other top schools stumbled.