South Carolina's Mikiah Herbert-Harrigan grabs for confetti after defeating Mississippi State in a championship match at the Southeastern Conference women's NCAA college basketball tournament in Greenville, S.C., Sunday, March 8, 2020. (AP Photo/Richard Shiro)
The Associated Press
NEW YORK (AP) - Dawn Staley and South Carolina are No. 1 in the final Associated Press women's basketball poll for the first time in school history.
The Gamecocks received 26 first-place votes from the national media panel in voting released Tuesday. No. 2 Oregon garnered the other four votes. Baylor, Maryland and UConn rounded out the first five.
'œOur season ended and we're No. 1," said Staley, in her 12th year at South Carolina. "I don't think it's up for discussion who No. 1 is.'ť
Louisville, Stanford, N.C. State, Mississippi State and UCLA rounded out the first 10 teams, which were unchanged from the previous poll.
Before this season, South Carolina had never finished the season higher than No. 3.
The Gamecocks topped the Top 25 the final 10 weeks of a season cut short before the NCAA Tournament by concerns about spreading the coronavirus pandemic. The AP has always released its final poll of the season before the start of the tournament that settles the national championship.
Staley said she wasn't sure if the Gamecocks might recognize this achievement next year with a banner or something else since there was no tournament.
'œI want to highlight our year. Only fitting for our seniors, only fitting for our team we put together,'ť she said. 'œFitting to recognize what was accomplished this year for us.'ť
The Ducks, led by star Sabrina Ionescu, were ranked No. 1 for four weeks during the season. Their previous best finish in the poll was sixth two seasons ago.
'œIt's really neat. Going into the tournament we had the strongest resume and were playing really, really well,'ť Ducks coach Kelly Graves said.
UConn's final ranking was its lowest since the team finished eighth in the last poll of the 2005-06 season. UConn had been four or higher every season since.
Northwestern, which shared the regular-season Big Ten title, was 11th. It's the best finish for the Wildcats ever, topping their 13th-place ranking in 1990. It's only the sixth time in school history the team was ranked in the final poll.
'œIt's been a wild ride,'ť Northwestern coach Joe McKeown said. 'œWe've had so many people enjoy watching the program this year and see it grow. I'm sad we didn't get a chance to play in the NCAA Tournament, but we have a great young group.'ť
CONFERENCE DOMINANCE
The Pac-12 has been the top conference in the poll all season and finished with three teams in the first 10 and six in the Top 25.
'œI feel like we have been doing that for a while now. I think back to four years ago, I think the conference statistically might have been a little stronger throughout that year, 2017," said Oregon State coach Scott Rueck, whose team finished No. 14. 'œIt is as good -- it is excellent right now, don't get me wrong. 2017 was crazy..'ť
HOLD THAT TIGER
Princeton finished the season ranked No. 22. It's the third time the Tigers were in the final poll, joining the 2012 and 2015 teams. The 2015 squad - whcih was undefeated until an NCAA Tournament loss to Maryland - was 13th in the final poll.
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Oregon's Sabrina Ionescu (20) dribbles the ball against Stanford during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in the final of the Pac-12 women's tournament Sunday, March 8, 2020, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
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Baylor guard Te'a Cooper, left and forward Lauren Cox, right, jump at the end of the first quarter of the team's NCAA college basketball game against Texas on Thursday, March 5, 2020, in Waco, Texas. (AP Photo/Ray Carlin)
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South Carolina's Aliyah Boston, left, and Mississippi State's Yemiyah Morris, right, battle for the ball during a championship match at the Southeastern Conference women's NCAA college basketball tournament in Greenville, S.C., Sunday, March 8, 2020. (AP Photo/Richard Shiro)
The Associated Press
South Carolina's players gather after defeating Arkansas 90-64 during a semifinal match at the Southeastern Conference women's NCAA college basketball tournament in Greenville, S.C., Saturday, March 7, 2020. (AP Photo/Richard Shiro)
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South Carolina's Destanni Henderson, right, shoots a three-point shot while defended by Arkansas' Rokia Doumbia during the second half of a semifinal match at the Southeastern Conference women's NCAA college basketball tournament in Greenville, S.C., Saturday, March 7, 2020. (AP Photo/Richard Shiro)
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Oregon's Sabrina Ionescu, right, embraces head coach Kelly Graves after defeating Stanford in an NCAA college basketball game in the final of the Pac-12 women's tournament Sunday, March 8, 2020, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
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Oregon players celebrate after defeating Stanford in an NCAA college basketball game in the final of the Pac-12 women's tournament Sunday, March 8, 2020, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
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Oregon's Ruthy Hebard reacts while cutting down the net after defeating Stanford in an NCAA college basketball game in the final of the Pac-12 women's tournament Sunday, March 8, 2020, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
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Baylor head coach Kim Mulkey reacts to a call against her team during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Iowa State, Sunday, March 8, 2020, in Ames, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
The Associated Press
FILE - In this March 6, 2020, file photo, South Carolina players celebrate after defeating Georgia 89-56 in a quarterfinal match at the Southeastern women's NCAA college basketball tournament in Greenville, S.C. South Carolina is No. 1 in the final Associated Press women's basketball poll of the season for the first time in school history. (AP Photo/Richard Shiro, File)
The Associated Press
FILE - In this March 8, 2020, file photo, South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley, right, and Tyasha Harris acknowledge the crowd after defeating Mississippi State in a championship match at the Southeastern Conference women's NCAA college basketball tournament in Greenville, S.C. South Carolina is No. 1 in the final Associated Press women's basketball poll of the season for the first time in school history. (AP Photo/Richard Shiro, File)
The Associated Press
FILE - In this Feb. 17, 2020, file photo, South Carolina coach Dawn Staley high fives players before an NCAA college basketball game against Vanderbilt, in Columbia, S.C. South Carolina is No. 1 in the final Associated Press women's basketball poll of the season for the first time in school history. (AP Photo/Sean Rayford, File)
The Associated Press
FILE - In this Feb. 7, 2020, file photo, Oregon coach Kelly Graves calls to his team during the first quarter of an NCAA college basketball game against Arizona in Eugene, Ore. South Carolina is No. 1 in the final Associated Press women's basketball poll of the season. Oregon was selected No. 2.(AP Photo/Chris Pietsch, File)
The Associated Press