South Carolina women remain at No. 2 in AP poll, pick up a first-place vote [Video]

The Gamecocks are still ranked No. 2 as they prepare to take on No. 5 LSU on Thursday in Columbia

NEW YORK — South Carolina has so far cruised through the difficult part of its conference schedule and remained No. 2 in The Associated Press women’s basketball Top 25 on Monday, picking up a first-place vote to gain a bit of ground on top-ranked UCLA.

The Gamecocks are in the midst of a five-game stretch against ranked opponents. So far they’ve beaten Texas by 17, Alabama by 18 and Oklahoma by 41 on Sunday. They face No. 5 LSU on Thursday and No. 17 Tennessee on Jan. 27.

UCLA received 27 first-place ballots this week while No. 3 Notre Dame got the other two. USC remained No. 4.

After LSU were UConn, Texas and Maryland — the Longhorns faced the Terrapins later Monday in the Coretta Scott King Classic — and TCU and …