PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Six BIG EAST women’s basketball teams were ranked in the Associated Pressand USA Today/ESPN Coaches polls, released after the ninth week of play.
Once again, Connecticut leads the BIG EAST at No. 2/2 on both lists, after beating Villanova 81-35 on Jan. 5 and topping then-No. 13/12 Notre Dame 79-76 on Jan. 8. West Virginia held on to No. 6/7 for the fourth consecutive week, the highest ranking in school history. The Mountaineers defeated Seton Hall 67-46 on Jan. 5 and Cincinnati 72-44 on Jan. 8.
Notre Dame continued its steady climb, moving up to No. 12/12 after beating Marquette 73-55 on Jan. 5 and losing to No. 2/2 Connecticut 79-76 on Jan. 8. DePaul followed suit, jumping to No. 14/21. The Blue Demons downed Providence 71-38 on Jan. 5 and collected its second win over a ranked opponent this season, beating then No. 18/18 St. John’s 69-54.
Georgetown slid to No. 18/17, after beating then No. 23/RV Syracuse 80-62 on Jan. 4 and losing to Marquette 75-73 on Jan. 8.
St. John’s fell out of the AP rankings, while slipping to No. 22 in the USA Today/ESPN poll after posting two losses. The Red Storm lost 84-73 to Louisville on Jan. 4 and to then-No. 16/23 DePaul 69-52 on Jan. 8. Syracuse fell two spots in the AP poll to No. 23, while continuing to receive votes in the USA Today/ESPN Poll. The Orange recorded its second loss of the season on Jan. 4, losing 80-62 to then-No. 15/14 Georgetown. SU knocked off its first BIG EAST foe on Jan. 8, beating Seton Hall 75-50.
St. John’s and Marquette received votes in the AP poll, while Syracuse, Marquette and Louisville collected USA Today/ESPN votes.
To view the polls in their entirety, please visit the BIG EAST women’s basketball national poll page.
