South Carolina has cruised through the difficult part of its conference schedule, picking up a first-place vote to gain ground on top-ranked UCLA.

Here are five takeaways from the poll: After picking up one first-place vote following a pair of ranked wins over then-No. 19 Alabama, 76-58, and previously No. 13 Oklahoma, 101-60, the second-ranked Gamecocks (18-1, 6-0 SEC) continue to add to an already impressive resume.

No. 2 South Carolina has picked up a first-place ballot in the women's AP Top 25 college basketball poll after cruising through the first three games of a five-game stretch against ranked teams