By Doug Feinberg, AP Basketball Writer
NEW YORK — UConn is the new No. 1 in The Associated Press women’s basketball poll, moving ahead of Notre Dame on Monday.
The Huskies (7-0) had been second in the poll behind the Irish (8-0), but climbed into first by two points after beating Top 25 teams DePaul and Texas this week. The rivals will face each other Wednesday night in South Bend, Indiana.
It’s the first time since 2005 that a team lost its No. 1 ranking without losing a game.
UConn garnered 18 first place votes from the 33-member national media panel while the Irish received the other 15. The Huskies’ ascension to No. 1 was bolstered with then-No. 3 South Carolina losing to Duke on Sunday.
The Gamecocks fell to sixth with Baylor, Maryland and Mississippi State all moving up a spot.
Duke, South Florida and Virginia Tech all entered the Top 25 this week while Tennessee, Auburn and Texas A&M fell out.
Colorado (8-0) climbed three spots to No. 18 this week.
AP Top 25
1. Connecticut
2. Notre Dame
3. Baylor
4. Maryland
5. Mississippi State
6. South Carolina
7. Florida State
8. Louisville
9. UCLA
10. Stanford
11. Washington
12. Ohio State
13. West Virginia
14. Miami (Fla.)
15. Kentucky
16. DePaul
17. Texas
18. Colorado
19. Oklahoma
20. Syracuse
21. Duke
22. South Florida
23. Florida
24. Oregon State
25. Virginia Tech
Others receiving votes: Oregon 65, Kansas State 48, Arizona State 48, Michigan 48, Tennessee 31, California 30, Auburn 28, Green Bay 22, Texas A&M 22, Northwestern 17, Marquette 15, Gonzaga 8, Oklahoma State 8, Michigan State 6, Boise State 6, USC 5, Vanderbilt 1.
