UConn, N.C., Tenn. Still 1-2-3 in AP Poll

[March 11, 2008]  DALLAS (AP) -- Connecticut, North Carolina and Tennessee remained the top three teams in the Top 25, with conference tournament losses shuffling the rest of the poll.

UConn was the top choice in The Associated Press women's basketball poll Monday for the fourth straight week, totaling 49 of the 50 first-place votes. North Carolina received the other first-place ballot. The Tar Heels and Lady Vols remained second and third.

The Huskies had a busy week, beating then-No. 4 Rutgers last Monday to win the Big East regular-season title. UConn advanced to the conference tournament championship, routing Pittsburgh 74-47 on Monday night.

North Carolina ran through the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament to win its fourth straight title Sunday. The Tar Heels finished the regular season with only two losses -- Tennessee and Connecticut. On Sunday, the Lady Vols defeated LSU in the Southeastern Conference tournament championship game for their 13th crown.

Stanford moved up two spots to fourth and will face No. 8 California in the Pac-10 title game Monday night.

Maryland remained fifth after losing to Duke in the ACC semifinals. LSU moved up one spot to sixth and Rutgers dropped three places to seventh after falling in the Big East quarterfinals to Louisville. Baylor fell to ninth and Duke moved into 10th.

Texas A&M made the biggest move in the poll to No. 11, after defeating Oklahoma. The Aggies were No. 17 last week. The Big 12 tournament begins this week.

Utah moved up three spots to 12th. The Utes were followed by Oklahoma, Old Dominion and Kansas State.

West Virginia fell two places to 16th. Notre Dame had the biggest drop in the poll, falling eight spots to No. 17. The Irish lost to St. John's last Monday, then lost to Pitt in the Big East tournament.

Oklahoma State was No. 18, followed by George Washington and Vanderbilt. The Colonials dropped six places after losing to Xavier in the Atlantic-10 semifinals.

Marist, UTEP, Louisville, Virginia and Ohio State round out the Top 25. Louisville re-entered the rankings for the first time since the second poll of the season. The Cardinals upset Rutgers in the quarterfinals of the Big East tournament on Sunday.

"Yesterday's win was a great one for our program," Louisville coach Jeff Walz said. "It's nice to see this team get the recognition they deserve because they have worked so hard. We have won nine of our last 10 games and are playing some of our best basketball."

Georgia was the only team to drop out.

[Associated Press; By DOUG FEINBERG]

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