Minnesota earns 1st women’s AP Top 25 ranking since 2019 [Video]

MINNEAPOLIS — Minnesota is off to its best start in 17 games and earned its first ranking since 2019 on Monday, entering The Associated Press women’s basketball poll at No. 24.

The Golden Gophers have won 16 of their first 17 contests, with the loss coming against Nebraska last month. They are ranked for the first time since Dec. 30, 2019. Next up is a matchup at No. 8 Maryland on Tuesday.

UCLA, South Carolina, Notre Dame and Southern California kept rolling, holding the top four spots again in the AP Top 25. The Bruins received 29 of the 31 first-place votes from a national media panel. The Fighting Irish, who were missing All-America guard Hannah Hidalgo in their last game because of a foot injury, got the other two top votes.

Undefeated LSU moved …