Nov. 19, 2012

STANFORD, Calif. - Fresh off of a 71-69 victory over previous No. 1 Baylor Friday night that led to the 2012 Jack in the Box Rainbow Wahine Classic title, Stanford women's basketball took over the top spot in the Associated Press Poll Monday morning for the first time since March 2005.

The Cardinal (5-0) received 21 of the 39 first-place votes to leapfrog No. 2 Connecticut. The Huskies received 17 first-place votes. Stanford hosts Connecticut at Maples Pavilion Dec. 29 at 1 p.m. on ESPNU.

Baylor, which had held the top spot in the poll since the start of the 2011-12 season, dropped to No. 3 and received the remaining first-place vote followed by Duke at No. 4.

It marks the fourth time in program history that Stanford has held the No. 1 spot in the AP Poll. Overall, the Cardinal has spent nine weeks atop the poll over three previous tenures. Stanford opened the 1992-93 season atop the poll, spending a week in the No. 1 spot, then opened the 1996-97 season No. 1 where it stayed for the first six weeks of the campaign. The Cardinal then ascended to No. 1 for the final two weeks of the 2004-05 campaign.

Stanford went 3-0 at the Rainbow Wahine Classic over the weekend, also defeating host Hawai'i and Tennessee-Martin. Junior forward Chiney Ogwumike was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player after averaging 19.3 points and 11.7 rebounds while shooting 62.5 percent (25-for-40) from the field over the three wins. Against Baylor, Ogwumike scored 18 points on 8-for-14 shooting, including the first 3-pointer of her collegiate career, and grabbed eight rebounds. She was named espnW's inaugural National Player of the Week for her performance.

Senior forward Joslyn Tinkle was named to the Rainbow Wahine Classic All-Tournament Team as well, averaging 17.3 points per game and shooting 60.6 percent (20-for-33) from the field.