The UCLA women’s basketball team has a new, coveted designation: best in the country.
A day after the Bruins toppled top-ranked South Carolina, they leapfrogged three other unbeaten teams Monday to take over the top spot in the Associated Press rankings.
It’s the first appearance at No. 1 for UCLA, which moved ahead of Connecticut, Notre Dame, Texas and USC in the wake of the Trojans’ home loss to Notre Dame. USC is No. 6 in the new poll, down three spots. South Carolina fell to No. 4 after its 15-point loss to the Bruins.
What does it all mean?
“I don’t mean to be boring, but I really don’t care who’s ranked what and at what point,” UCLA coach Cori Close said Sunday after the most momentous regular-season triumph of her career. “I just want us to learn the lessons that this game taught us and I want us to fall more in love with the process of what it takes to become great. That’s the only thing that matters to me.”
The Bruins (5-0) showed no discernible weakness in dismantling the Gamecocks. UCLA had the superior post presence with center Lauren Betts (14 rebounds), excellent playmaking from guards Kiki Rice and Elina Aarnisalo (a combined seven assists) and big-time contributions off the bench from guards Londynn Jones (five three-pointers) and Gabriela Jaquez (11 points).
The victory over South Carolina was a breakthrough for UCLA after having gone 0 for 20 against No. 1 teams. It helped the Bruins receive 20 first-place votes from the 32-member media panel. The Huskies received nine first-place votes and Notre Dame got the other three.
Close intimated that the only time being No. 1 matters is at the end of the season. UCLA won the 1978 Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women championship behind the dynamic play of Ann Meyers-Drysdale and Denise Curry. Meyers-Drysdale attended the game Sunday, watching a group of players who might take the Bruins to unprecedented heights.
Close said the victory over the Gamecocks was another step toward her team’s desired destination.
“It’s Nov. 24,” Close said after the game. “Am I proud of our team? Yes, but this is just the beginning and we just can’t get tired of doing things right.”
