Colorado stays at No. 3 in women's basketball AP Top 25 poll

Buffs remain as one of the nation's top teams heading into the final month of the season

Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

CU women's basketball holds steady at No. 3 after going 2-1 in the top ten trifecta over the weekend. JR Payne's team beat Stanford before a loss to UCLA and recovered with a win over USC. The Cardinal moved up two spots to No. 6 with the Bruins moving above CU at No. 2. A slide for the Trojans from No. 6 to outside the top ten at No. 11 after two straight losses.

Colorado (16-2) bounced back after a tough loss 76-68 to then fifth-ranked UCLA. They've defeated four ranked opponents so far this season, including top-ranked LSU to open the season in Las Vegas. This marks the highest ranking for the Buffs since 1995.

A couple of key matchups for the newest top teams. South Carolina (17-0) stays at No. 1 for a tenth straight week. The Gamecock have three wins over ranked opponents and head to the bayou to face No. 10 LSU on Thursday. No. 2 UCLA (15-1) faces 16th-ranked Utah in Salt Lake City on Monday night. 

Kansas State moves up to No. 4 after a 69-58 win over Kansas. The Wildcats best ranking in 21 years as they face No. 13 Baylor on Monday night. Iowa rounds out the top five after a 100-92 defeat at the hands of No. 12 Ohio State. Catlin Clark scored all nine of the Hawkeyes' overtime points. She had an encounter with OSU fans storming the court after the upset.

Colorado is one of six Pac-12 schools to be ranked in the top 25. The Buffs hit the road for a four-game road stand in the Pacific Northwest. It starts at Corvallis with No. 25 Oregon State on Friday night.