Pac-12 has logjam atop conference with 3 unbeatens

Quick quiz: Which conference has three teams still unbeaten in conference play heading into Monday night?

Hint: It's not the SEC, ACC, Big Ten or Big 12.

It's the Pac-12.

Arizona State, Stanford and Oregon State all sit at 5-0 in the conference, although that will change Monday with the 11th-ranked Cardinal hosting the No. 13 Sun Devils. The Beavers face Washington on Monday as well.

If Charli Turner Thorne's squad can stay undefeated in the Pac-12 with its first victory at Stanford since 1984, Arizona State will have a chance to take firm command of the conference Sunday, when they host Oregon State.

History isn't on the Sun Devils' side. Arizona State is 1-31 on The Farm, has lost the last 16 in the series and hasn't beaten the Cardinal since 2006.

While the West Coast is full of great teams, the top of The Associated Press Top 25 women's basketball poll keeps its East Coast flavor with South Carolina leading the way for the ninth straight week. The Gamecocks also play Monday night at Florida.

South Carolina was followed by UConn, Baylor, Louisville and Tennessee. Notre Dame, which hosts the Lady Vols on Monday night, is sixth. Maryland, Texas, Oregon State and Texas A&M round out the first 10 teams.

Some notes from this week's poll:

THEY'RE BACK: One week after falling out, Western Kentucky returned as No. 24. Last week, the Lady Toppers became the fifth team since 2000 to drop out of the rankings without losing a game, according to STATS. It was no matter, as they beat Florida Atlantic 80-43 and Florida International 81-42 this past week. The Lady Toppers have won 13 straight since falling to Louisville on Nov. 25.

UNBEATENS: South Carolina and Princeton are the lone unbeatens in women's basketball. The Tigers are off until Jan. 30 for exams. On the other end of the spectrum, UC Santa Barbara and Illinois State are the two winless programs.

LOADED CONFERENCE: The ACC has six teams in the Top 25, led by Louisville. The conference also has No. 6 Notre Dame, No. 12 North Carolina, No. 15 Duke, No. 17 Florida State and 23rd-ranked Syracuse.

UPCOMING MATCHUPS: Not all the great games this week come Monday. Louisville visits Florida State in a key ACC matchup. Georgia will see if it's a contender in the SEC race this week with games against Texas A&M and Tennessee.

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