COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Ohio State women’s basketball has been perfect since 2024 rang in and the team’s reward is its ranking rising up week after week.

The Buckeyes (19-3, 10-1) have been ranked No. 5 in the new Associated Press poll, a three-place jump from last week. This continues a rapid ascension up the rankings for the Buckeyes, who started the new year ranked No. 20.

Ohio State extended its winning streak to nine straight after trouncing Wisconsin on Thursday by 38 points and getting a second top-ten victory on Sunday. Forward Cotie McMahon (20 points, 7 rebounds) and guard Jacy Sheldon (25 points, 4 assists) led the Buckeyes to a 74-69 win over then No. 10 Indiana at the Schottenstein Center. The Hoosiers were among a handful of top-ten teams that suffered losses last week, creating a shuffle in the rankings.

This week, OSU will look to extend its winning streak to 11 as they play two games on the road starting with Minnesota on Thursday. The Buckeyes will then play a 4 p.m. tip-off on Sunday at Michigan State. Both games will be streamed on Peacock. Ohio State is on pace to not play another ranked opponent until its regular season finale at No. 2 Iowa on Mar. 3.

Associated Press Poll (Feb. 5, 2023)

1South Carolina (35)
2Iowa
3NC State
4Colorado
5Ohio State
6Stanford
7Texas
8Kansas State
9UCLA
10USC
11UCONN
12Notre Dame
13LSU
14Indiana
15Louisville
16Virginia Tech
17Oregon State
18Baylor
19Gonzaga
20Utah
21Creighton
22West Virginia
23Syracuse
24Oklahoma
25Princeton