UConn's still No. 1 in women's basketball poll

After its worst week in seven years, North Carolina made an unprecedented slide down the Top 25. Connecticut remained the unanimous top choice in The Associated Press poll for the ninth straight week Monday after routing the Tar Heels 88-58. UConn gets its first test in the Big East on Monday night when it hosts No. 6 Louisville.

North Carolina plummeted to 10th after also losing at Georgia Tech on Thursday and Maryland on Sunday. The drop is the biggest one-week fall from No. 2 _ surpassing that of Long Beach State, which went from second to ninth in 1988. It was the first time the Tar Heels had lost three straight games since 2002.

"We've had a tough week," North Carolina coach Sylvia Hatchell said. "I just told the girls, 'No other team in the country has accepted the challenge of playing a schedule like this.' Yeah, we haven't been as successful as we want to be, but I guess what doesn't kill you makes you better."

Oklahoma moved up to No. 2 for the second time this season. The Sooners have a Big 12 showdown Wednesday against No. 4 Baylor. Sandwiched between the two Big 12 schools is No. 3 Duke, which visits surprising Atlantic Coast Conference leader Florida State on Thursday.

Auburn (20-0) moved up one spot to No. 5 after beating then-No. 10 Tennessee on Sunday. The Tigers are the only other undefeated team besides Connecticut.

California, Maryland, Stanford and North Carolina round out the first 10. The Terrapins climbed four spots after their win over the Tar Heels, who fell to their lowest ranking since Jan. 24, 2005, when they were 12th.

Texas A&M, Florida, Tennessee, Kansas State, and Ohio State were the next five. The Gators matched their highest ranking since Jan. 28, 2002.

Texas dropped two spots to No. 16 after losing to Oklahoma on Sunday. The Longhorns were followed by Notre Dame, Florida State, Virginia, Vanderbilt and Pittsburgh.

At the bottom of the poll, four teams dropped out _ Marist, Rutgers, New Mexico and Oklahoma State. Rutgers exited for the first time in two years while Oklahoma State had been in the Top 25 since Dec. 3, 2007.

Iowa State, Xavier, South Dakota State and DePaul joined the poll. The Cyclones, Musketeers and Jackrabbits had all been in the Top 25 this season while the Blue Demons are making their first appearance since last season.