Louisville and Iowa were the big winners in women’s college basketball last week, and both were rewarded by the voters in the USA TODAY Sports women’s college basketball poll.
The Cardinals extended their winning streak to 11 games after notching impressive road wins at Notre Dame and N.C. State. Jeff Walz’s team won comfortably over the Fighting Irish in South Bend by double figures, but needed overtime and a heroic performance from Imari Berry to defeat the Wolfpack inside Raleigh’s Reynolds Coliseum. Berry, a sophomore, scored a career-best 33 points off the bench and also grabbed 12 rebounds.
Advertisement
Louisville rose three spots in the poll to No. 7, its highest ranking of the season. The well-balanced Cardinals – who have five players all averaging at least 9.5 points per game – rank 14th nationally in rebounding and 18th in assist-turnover ratio.
“What’s unique about this group I think is our overall depth,” Walz said after the N.C. State victory. “We’re pretty darn unselfish right now, which is something I’m continuing to preach and really hit hard on. … If it’s not your night shooting the ball, then rebound it, set screens, communicate on defense, and that’s what we’re doing a really good job of.”
Rising three spots to check in at No. 10 this week, Iowa is in the top 10 of the coaches poll for the first time since Jan Jensen succeeded Lisa Bluder as head coach. The Hawkeyes took down Oregon and then secured their third ranked win of the season on Sunday, Jan. 18, by defeating Michigan State.
It’s been the post play that has shined for Iowa lately. Hannah Stuelke and Ava Heiden combined for 42 points and 15 rebounds against the Spartans, and 31 points and 17 rebounds against the Ducks. Iowa ranks fifth nationally in assists per game with 20.9, with three players averaging three or more per game.
Advertisement
Ahead for Iowa are two ranked games: A visit to No. 13 Maryland on Thursday, Jan. 22, before hosting No. 11 Ohio State – which moved up four spots this week – on Sunday, Jan. 25.
Like the Buckeyes, Princeton also gained four spots in the poll this week to check in at No. 20.
Oklahoma fell four spots to No. 16 after losing at home to No. 6 LSU, and Iowa State fell five spots to No. 24 following its fifth consecutive loss.
Notre Dame dropped out of the poll after back-to-back losses to Louisville and No. 1 UConn.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Iowa, Louisville rise in USA Today women’s basketball coaches poll
