Five takeaways from AP Top 25 women's basketball poll

The top five remain unchanged, but a lot of key matchups have mixed up the rest of the rankings in this week's Associated Press Top 25 women's college basketball poll, which was released on Monday. Here are five takeaways from the poll.

South Carolina picks up early signature win

In a highly anticipated top-10 clash between the Gamecocks and then-No. 8 USC, second-ranked South Carolina (4-0) led for most of the game in a 69-52 win thanks to a strong inside presence and stout defensive performance that only allowed the Trojans to shoot 33 percent from the floor and just 1-of-14 (7 percent) from deep.

Sophomore forward Joyce Edwards (18 PPG, 6.8 RPG) leads the scoring with Florida State transfer Ta'Niya Latson (15.3 PPG) close behind. With only one more game against a current-ranked opponent on its nonconference schedule (No. 21 Louisville), there is not much standing in the way of South Carolina right now, especially since it has 82 consecutive wins over unranked opponents.

Michigan, TCU surge into top 10 

The Wolverines move up eight spots to No. 6, their highest ranking since 2022, after a 93-54 rout of previous-No. 18 Notre Dame. It was their largest margin of victory over an AP-ranked opponent in program history. Michigan (3-0) never trailed and shot 50 percent from the floor, something it must rely on if it is going to have any shot at taking down No. 1 UConn on Friday night.

It was a similar story for TCU, which moves up seven spots to No. 10 after a 69-59 win over a 10th-ranked NC State team, its first road win over a ranked nonconference opponent since 2011 and second road win over a top-10 team in program history. A favorable schedule lies ahead, but if Notre Dame transfer Olivia Miles (17.5 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 7.8 APG, 2.8 SPG) continues to stuff the stat sheet, TCU (4-0) could continue its climb up the rankings.

Iowa State moves up after Audi Crooks' historic performance

The Cyclones, up four spots to No. 12, have not faced a ranked opponent yet and are not scheduled to until they face in-state rival and 19th-ranked Iowa on Dec. 10. Still, what Crooks did in a 97-50 win over Valparaiso should not go unnoticed.

The junior center had 43 points (18-of-23 FG) in 20 minutes, setting the record for the most points in a half in school history. It is difficult to pinpoint exactly where the Cyclones (5-0) are at given the schedule they have faced, but it is clear the impact Crooks can make on the court, even if she is only out there for half the game.

Notre Dame plummets after blowout loss

The Fighting Irish (3-1) drop six spots to No. 24 after getting handled by Michigan on Saturday. That followed a record-setting performance from junior guard Hannah Hidalgo, who had 44 points and a Division I-record 16 steals against Akron. She was held to 12 points on 4-of-21 shooting in the loss to Michigan, a clear sign that Notre Dame's success runs through her once again if it is going to be a true contender.

West Virginia joins the rankings

Although the Mountaineers trailed at halftime and had six players ejected, they still rallied to take down then-No. 15 Duke, 57-49, to improve to 4-0. Now at No. 23 in the poll, West Virginia will look to keep all of its players available going forward, but it did not seem to affect it on Friday night.