In an impressive run of victories, the Ohio State Buckeyes women's basketball team has soared to the No. 2 spot in The Associated Press Top 25 poll, matching the highest ranking in the school's history. Previously ranked fifth, the Buckeyes have claimed victories in their last 11 games, with their only losses coming against strong opponents like USC, UCLA, and Michigan.

The Buckeyes began the season with a preseason rank of No. 7, but experienced a temporary dip in performance, dropping to 20th on January 1st. However, they steadily climbed up the rankings, reaching 18th on January 15th and continuing on an upward trajectory ever since.

Meanwhile, the South Carolina Gamecocks maintain their stronghold on the top spot, once again securing all 35 first-place votes in the latest poll. Even in the absence of star center Kamilla Cardoso, who was representing Brazil in the Olympic qualifying tournament, South Carolina displayed their dominance with resounding victories over Missouri and then-No. 11 UConn.

Stanford has also made a substantial move up the ranks, advancing three places to claim the No. 3 position. Iowa, however, slipped to fourth following a disappointing loss in which they squandered a double-digit lead against Nebraska. Caitlin Clark, who is just eight points shy of the NCAA career scoring record, failed to register a point in the fourth quarter.

Several top-five teams faced setbacks last week, leading to some changes in the rankings. NC State dropped three spots to sixth after falling to Virginia Tech, while Colorado fell four spots to eighth following a loss at home to Oregon State. Kansas State remained in seventh place, with UCLA and USC retaining their positions in ninth and tenth, respectively.

Interestingly, this is the first time since Week 9 of last season that no new team has entered the poll, highlighting the consistency of the top-ranked teams throughout this season.

In an impressive surge, Oregon State made the biggest leap in the rankings, climbing six spots to seize the 11th position. They achieved this feat after securing victories against Utah and Colorado. Currently standing third in the Pac-12 standings behind Stanford and Colorado, the Beavers are riding high on a five-game winning streak as they prepare to face off against UCLA and USC in the upcoming week.

The No. 2 spot in the AP poll has proven to be elusive this season, with six different teams occupying the position at different points in time. UCLA and Iowa both held the spot twice before suffering defeats, while Kansas State briefly occupied the slot before succumbing to a loss. Now, it's Ohio State's turn to fill the No. 2 position. Last year in January, the Buckeyes also had a two-week stint at No. 2 before encountering a defeat. This week, they will be hosting Nebraska.

Concluding a challenging stretch in their schedule, the No. 18 Louisville Cardinals faced four consecutive Top 25 teams. Despite putting up a valiant effort, they finished with a 2-2 record against these formidable opponents, including a loss to Syracuse on Sunday. Jeff Walz's team split two games with the Orange, with a defeat to N.C. State and a victory over Notre Dame sandwiched in-between.

The Ohio State women's basketball team's ascent to the second spot in the AP poll marks a significant accomplishment for the program, matching their best ranking in school history. With their relentless drive and determination, the Buckeyes now set their sights on reaching new heights and solidifying their status among the nation's elite teams.