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College Basketball: Villanova moves up to 10th in poll

Villanova continued its climb in the Associated Press men's basketball poll on Monday, rising four spots to No. 10. It marked the Wildcats' first top-10 appearance in the AP top 25 since Feb. 7, 2011.

Villanova’s JayVaughn Pinkson (22) celebrates after he scores basket and gets fouled during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Saint Joseph's on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2013, in Philadelphia. Villanova won 98-68. (Michael Perez/AP)
Villanova’s JayVaughn Pinkson (22) celebrates after he scores basket and gets fouled during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Saint Joseph's on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2013, in Philadelphia. Villanova won 98-68. (Michael Perez/AP)Read more

Villanova continued its climb in the Associated Press men's basketball poll on Monday, rising four spots to No. 10. It marked the Wildcats' first top-10 appearance in the AP top 25 since Feb. 7, 2011.

The Wildcats moved up from 14th after two convincing Big Five victories last week, by 77-54 over Penn at home and by 98-68 at St. Joseph's. Two of the teams they jumped were Kentucky, which fell from third to 11th, and Kansas, which dropped from sixth to 13th. The Wildcats upset the then-No. 2 Jayhawks on Nov. 29.

Villanova also rose from 19th to 14th in the USA Today coaches' poll.

Arizona moved up to No. 1 in the AP poll for the first time since 2003.

Syracuse, which received the other first-place votes, and Ohio State moved up two places to second and third, while Wisconsin jumped four spots to fourth. Michigan State, which had been No. 1 for three weeks, dropped to fifth after losing, 79-65, at home to North Carolina.

'Nova is 9-0 for the first time since the 2009-10 season. The last time the Wildcats won their first 10 in a season came in 2005-06. After a week off for final exams, they return to the Pavilion on Sunday for a Big Five matchup against La Salle.

Forward JayVaughn Pinkston, who had 27 points and eight rebounds in the St. Joseph's victory, was named Big Five player of the week.

Iowa 92, Fairleigh Dickinson 59 - Gabe Olaseni tied a career high with 14 points and had 10 rebounds as the No. 23 Hawkeyes (10-1) blew past the Knights (3-9) in Iowa City, Iowa.

Lehigh 76, LIU-Brooklyn 69 - Jesse Chuku had 15 points and 10 rebounds and Tim Kempton added 13 and pulled down 10 boards as the Mountain Hawks (6-5) defeated the Blackbirds (2-6) in Bethlehem, Pa.

Women's

Penn State was ranked No. 12 in the AP poll released on Monday.

Connecticut stayed the unanimous No. 1. The Huskies routed UC-Davis by 60 points on Thursday and don't play again until Dec. 17 against No. 2 Duke.

The top nine teams in the poll remained the same with Tennessee, Notre Dame, Kentucky, Stanford, Louisville, Maryland and Baylor following the Blue Devils in order.

Dawn Staley's unbeaten South Carolina moved up to No. 10, the program's highest ranking since 2002.

St. Joseph's received one vote.

Haverford 82, Penn State-Hazleton 49 - Rachel Baskin had 14 points, Brianna Robbins added 13, and Nina Voith (Germantown Friends) had 11 as the host Fords (7-0) routed the Lions (7-4).

Alexis Daly had 13 points for the Lions.

Arcadia 99, Baptist Bible 42 - Valerie DiMuro scored 21 points, going 10 for 11 from the floor, as the Knights (6-2) blasted the Defenders (0-5) in Glenside.

Mary Badeen added 18 points with four three-pointers, while Samantha Caligiuri (Avon Grove) poured in 16 points. Victoria Mazzeo (Neshaminy) pulled down 10 rebounds.