Stanford, Arizona, Oregon gather massive winnings

The Pac-12 performed six necessary non-conference video games on Sunday and Tuesday and received these video games 4-2 to bolster the group’s file in top-level competitors.

– Stanford led the best way with wins over Tennessee, who performed one in every of their finest video games in a disappointing season, and Creighton, who completed twenty first.

– Arizona bounced again from their solely loss (to Kansas) with a decisive victory over No. 24 Baylor.

– And Oregon dealt the primary loss to Arkansas at quantity 17.

However, Oregon State could not compete towards No. 10 LSU and USC misplaced to Texas by double figures.

Consequently, Pac-12 improved to 5-8 towards groups within the present Related Press high 25 ballot. This isn’t the most effective end result on the earth, however the unanimous first racket of South Carolina suffered two defeats.

Mix 5 groups with an 85.1 non-conference profitable share – the most effective within the nation – and the Pac-12 is properly positioned for the Christmas break and full convention begin subsequent week.

Right here is the Hotline’s seventh energy ranking for the 2022-23 season.

(NET ranking till Monday)

1. Stanford (12-1)

Final week: 1
Outcomes: Beat Tennessee 77-70 and Creighton 72-59.
Subsequent: vs Cal (Friday)
Internet ranking: 3
Commentary: Hayley Jones, Hannah Soar and Cameron Brink mixed to attain 23 of 24 factors within the fourth quarter as Stanford closed a five-point hole to beat Tennessee. Brink completed with 21 factors and 17 rebounds and a career-critical six blocks, the Pac-12’s finest in these mixed classes since Stanford’s Jane Appel in 2007. level, 16 rebounds towards Creighton.

2. Utah (11-0/1-0 Pak-12)

Final week: 3
Outcomes: Defeated Colorado 85-58, UC Riverside 92-45, and Weber State 88-52.
Subsequent: vs Southern Utah (Thursday)
Internet ranking: 6
Commentary: On the hotline, UCLA has been in 2nd place since Thanksgiving week, however now the Twelfth-placed Utes are up one spot after their dominant win over Colorado on the convention opener – they’re the one ones undefeated Pac-12. Utah edged out the Buffs 47–19 on mixture within the second and fourth quarters, with Alyssa Pealy main once more (25 factors in 28 minutes). Ahead Peyton McFarland got here again towards UC Riverside in her first sport since an ACL tear on the 2022 Pac-12 match. An 11-0 begin is one win earlier than the most effective lead to faculty historical past.

3. UCLA (12-1/1-0)

Final week: 2
Outcomes: Beat USC 59-56, Cal State Bakersfield 75-47 and Fresno State 82-48.
Subsequent: In Oregon (December 30)
Internet ranking: 25
Commentary: UCLA hit 32.9 p.c, together with 3-of-23 from 3-point vary, however nonetheless handed USC the primary loss. “A sport like this units the benchmark for the remainder of the yr,” says Bruins coach Corey Shut on how you can win with perseverance. UCLA dropped one spot within the Hotline and AP polls to #11.

4. Oregon (10-1/1-0 Pak-12)

Final week: 4
Outcomes: Beat East Washington 88-38, Charleston 97-33 and Arkansas 85-78
Subsequent: vs. Ohio State (Wednesday)
Internet ranking: 9
Commentary: Down by seven early within the fourth quarter, the Geese beat the Arkansas 26–12 within the Finals 8:22, their finest non-conference win. Grace VanSluten, Pac-12 Freshman of the Week, led Oregon with 26 factors, Andia Rogers added 20, and 6-foot-8 Filipina Kei grabbed 14 rebounds. Ohio State’s victory over South Florida provides the Pac-12 their first win over a high 10 group.

5. Arizona (9-1)

Final week: 5
Outcomes: Beat Texas Southern 89–55 and Baylor 75–54
Subsequent: at UT Arlington (Wednesday)
Internet ranking: 29
Commentary: Arizona’s turnaround, from a house loss to Kansas to a highway win over Baylor, speaks volumes about Adiya Barnes’ teaching and the Wildcats’ capacity to depend on their protection when wanted. Baylor had 19 passes to offer UA a decisive lead in no losses (25-2) and quick break factors (18-5) within the sport.

6. Washington State (9-2/0-1)

Final week: 7
Outcomes: Beat Jackson State 83-56 and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 75-49
Subsequent: in Houston (Wednesday)
Internet ranking: 48
Commentary: All through Monday, Charlize Leger-Walker was ninth in nationwide scoring (22.0 factors per sport) after scoring 80 factors in her final three video games. The Cougars have moved up one place within the Hotline rankings however are at the moment on the unsuitable aspect of the ESPN Bracketology NCAA Event Bubble, which has 5 Pac-12 groups out of 68 groups.

7. Oregon State (7-4/0-1)

Final week: 6
Outcomes: Beat Nevada 83–56, misplaced to LSU 87–55
Subsequent match: vs. North Carolina Central (December 27)
Internet ranking: 63
Commentary: Talia von Elhoffen, who has household ties to Hawaii, scored 41 factors (17 of 20 throws) towards Nevada in Maui. However then the Beavers misplaced 30–6 within the second quarter of a lopsided loss to No. 10 LSU, dropping them one spot on the Hotline.