rewrite this title Five takeaways from AP Top 25 women’s basketball poll

No. 1 UConn continues to hold down the top spot while two programs surge up the rankings in the first Associated Press Top 25 women’s basketball poll of the season, which was released on Monday.

Here are five takeaways from the poll.

UConn holds down top spot after undefeated start to title defense

The defending-champion Huskies (2-0) received 30 of the 32 first-place votes to remain No. 1 in the rankings with wins over then-No. 20 Louisville and Florida State. The win over the Cardinals was UConn’s 30th consecutive in a season opener, good for the second-longest active streak in Division I. 

The Huskies’ title defense has been led so far by key returnees Azzi Fudd (21.5 PPG) and Sarah Strong (21 PPG, 9.0 RPG). The loss of Paige Bueckers to the WNBA’s Dallas Wings would be difficult to overcome for most teams, but UConn appears to be just fine with Fudd and Strong carrying the load. 

Baylor, USC surge into top 10 after ranked wins

It was a defensive battle, but the Bears were up for the challenge in a 58-52 season-opening win over then-No. 7 Duke. Baylor (2-0), up nine spots to No. 7 in the poll, rode the hot hand of Auburn transfer Taliah Scott and improved its record to 16-1 in games played outside the United States.

The Trojans experienced the biggest jump in the poll, climbing 10 spots to No. 8 after a comeback 69-68 win over then-No. 9 NC State on Sunday. The Trojans (2-0) did not shoot well and lost the rebounding edge, 54-40, in the win over the Wolfpack. However, freshman guard Jazzy Davidson (21 points, four rebounds, four assists, three steals, five blocks) was sensational.

Baylor and USC can each improve their shot-making, but those are certainly two key wins to begin the season, especially for a Trojans team that is without star JuJu Watkins (torn right ACL) for the season. An even bigger test against No. 2 South Carolina awaits on Saturday.

Duke plummets eight spots after sluggish opener

The Blue Devils were only able to manage 52 points in the loss to the Bears, dropping them from No. 7 to No. 15 in the newest rankings. Sophomore forward Toby Fournier (21.5 PPG, 9.5 RPG) continues to put the team on her back, but Duke (1-1) must improve its efficiency from the floor after shooting an abysmal 29 percent against Baylor.

The defense will keep it in most games, but with the No. 2 Gamecocks and No. 5 LSU on the Blue Devils’ nonconference schedule, the shots need to start falling.

Tennessee slides after sloppy opening week

The Lady Vols fell by a score of 80-77 to NC State in their opener, giving them six straight losses in top-10 matchups and dropping them four spots to No. 12 in the poll. Tennessee comfortably took down East Tennessee State in its second game, but struggled against UT Martin in a 72-61 win to get to 2-1.

Turnovers have been an issue for the Lady Vols, with 22 alone in Sunday’s narrow win over UT Martin. The sloppiness must improve before Tennessee’s road trip to take on No. 3 UCLA on Nov. 30.

The Huskies have only played one game, a 90-43 rout over Seattle U, but it was enough to vault them into the rankings as the only newcomer this week. There is not much to go off against a mid-major opponent, but if the hot shooting (52.2 percent) continues, Washington could remain in the rankings, especially with a favorable schedule coming up.