SEC Women's Basketball Power Rankings: Longhorns are new No. 1 in town

There's a new No. 1 in the SEC women's basketball power rankings this week.

Texas took the top spot from South Carolina after a rare matchup between SEC teams outside of the conference schedule. The Longhorns won the Players Era Festival championship over the Gamecocks thanks to a Rori Harmon baseline fadeaway jumper in the last second to seal the 66-64 win. Texas is looking like a real contender for the national championship after its trip to Las Vegas.

Rankings based on games as of Nov. 30.

1. Texas (8-0)

Last week: 3

What to know: Texas has an absolute squad this year, taking down UCLA and South Carolina in two days. Perhaps the biggest development is Harmon looking exactly like she did before her ACL tear, if not better.

2. South Carolina (7-1)

Last week: 1

What to know: The Gamecocks' weaknesses were exposed against Texas. But if coach Dawn Staley isn't worried about her team losing to a title contender in November on a game-winner with 0.7 seconds left, you shouldn't be either.

3. LSU (8-0)

Last week: 2

What to know: Sucks moving down without taking any losses, doesn't it? If only LSU had a single quality win to convince me not to . . .

4. Oklahoma (7-1)

Last week: 5

What to know: The Sooners' offense is rolling with three straight wins scoring 100 points or more. But Florida State, the only power conference team in that run, made it a track meet in the Sooners' 109-91 win — and that doesn't feel sustainable.

5. Tennessee (5-2)

Last week: 4

What to know: The Lady Vols had every weakness exposed on the road against UCLA, and they have a long way to go before SEC play.

6. Vanderbilt (8-0)

Last week: 7

What to know: It was another week of blowout wins for Vanderbilt, but it didn't beat anyone worth mentioning.

7. Kentucky (8-1)

Last week: 6

What to know: The Wildcats' bigs had a rough outing against Maryland, and it led to their first loss of the season. Kentucky will need them to show up in SEC play or it'll be a long few months.

8. Ole Miss (7-0)

Last week: 9

What to know: Ole Miss had a dominant week, and the emergence of Christeen Iwuala, who's averaging 17.4 points and nine rebounds, has fueled the Rebels.

9. Auburn (8-1)

Last week: 8

What to know: Auburn suffered its first loss of the season to Oregon, but better to take a loss now than later.

10. Georgia (9-0)

Last week: 11

What to know: The Bulldogs survived S'Mya Nichols — both her swinging on Trinity Turner after she taunted her midgame and her 40-piece — to notch a quality win over Kansas.

11. Florida (8-1)

Last week: 12

What to know: The Gators left the Cayman Islands with two wins behind two 27-point games from Liv McGill. Florida might just be all right this season.

12. Alabama (7-0)

Last week: 10

What to know: Alabama survived a scare against Minnesota thanks to Essence Cody and Jessica Timmons. Unfortunately, it appears the Crimson Tide have no depth, with only two points from their bench in the five-point win.

13. Mississippi State (6-1?)

Last week: 14

What to know: A 14-point win over Alcorn State, which got beat by Alabama and LSU by an average of 58 points, and only a 12-point win over UL Monroe . . . Mississippi State is not inspiring confidence early.

14. Texas A&M (5-1)

Last week: 13

What to know: The Aggies lost by one point to UT Arlington. It'll be tough to know what to make of Texas A&M before SEC play with only nine total nonconference matchups, though.

15. Missouri (7-2)

Last week: 16

What to know: Grace Slaughter put the team on her back with 33 points against Northwestern. Now, if she can do that every game, Missouri might get some wins in SEC play.

16. Arkansas (7-2)

Last week: 15

What to know: The Razorbacks got outshot by Harvard, which went 12-for-30 from deep. Not a winning recipe, especially when Arkansas went only 17-for-45 total.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: SEC Women's Basketball Power Rankings: Texas is new No. 1 in town