Illinois women end 23-year AP Top 25 drought, LSU on rise
By DOUG FEINBERG
AP Basketball Writer
No. 24 Illinois has earned its first ranking in 23 years coming inThe Associated Press Top 25 women’s basketball poll. The Illini are off to one of the best starts in school history and have had a remarkable turnaround after going 7-20 last season. South Carolina remained the No. 1 team, still garnering all 28 votes from a national media panel. The Gamecocks have been No. 1 for 29 consecutive weeks. Stanford, Ohio State and UConn are next. LSU moved up to fifth. It’s the first time the Tigers have been that high since 2009.