Pac-12 women’s basketball comfortably leads the nation in quantity of non-conference wins. It’s the quality that can stand a boost.

Following No. 15 UCLA’s loss to top-ranked South Carolina on Tuesday, the Pac-12 is 1-6 vs. current Associated Press top-25 teams. The Bruins have the only victory, over No. 24 Marquette.

We say this knowing full well that two of the six losses are to the defending national champion and unanimous AP No. 1 Gamecocks — and by a combined 14 points — but the Pac-12 standard is that high.

The first of South Carolina’s wins required overtime (76-71) on the road against No. 2 Stanford. The Gamecocks then  outlasted UCLA 73-64 in a home game that was closer than the final score.

Add matchups against other teams receiving votes in the AP poll and the Pac-12 record improves to 5-8, with three of the wins by UCLA. But the 11 teams other than the Bruins are a combined 2-7, with victories by Utah over Oklahoma and Washington State over South Dakota State.

There are some high-profile non-conference matchups ahead but not this week or next, aside from No. 14  Arizona vs. Kansas (receiving votes) on Dec. 8.

Dec. 18 is significant for the Pac-12 with No. 2 Stanford vs. Tennessee (receiving votes), Arizona vs. No. 21 Baylor, Oregon State vs. No. 11 LSU and USC vs. No. 22 Texas. Then Stanford plays No. 13 Creighton on Dec. 20 and Colorado faces Marquette (receiving votes) on Dec. 21.

There are Pac-12 rivalry games as early as Dec. 11, but full conference play doesn’t begin until Dec. 29.

The Pac-12’s overall non-conference winning percentage is 85.9 (raw total: 67-11). Other conferences above 80 percent are the ACC (80.5%) and SEC (80.3%).

Here are the Hotline’s fourth 2022-23 women’s basketball power ratings, with only two changes compared to 10 last week (updated NET rankings are coming in December).

1. Stanford (8-1)

Last week: 1Results: beat Florida Gulf Coast 93-69, beat Grambling State 87-50, beat Hawaii 68-39Next up: vs. Santa Clara (Wednesday)Comment: Stanford’s biggest highlight of three wins by an average of 30 points in Hawaii arguably was 6-foot-7 freshman Lauren Betts’ 11-point, 13-rebound double-double vs. Grambling. Her development could be instrumental come the postseason.

2. UCLA (7-1)

Last week: 2Results: beat Jackson State 72-60, lost to South Carolina 73-64Next up: at UC Santa Barbara (Saturday)Comment: UCLA led at South Carolina for almost 25 minutes, including by 10 in the second quarter. The Gamecocks finally pulled free with 1:11 left when freshman Kiki Rice committed personal and technical fouls resulting in four free throws, doubling South Carolina’s lead.

3. Utah (6-0)

Last week: 3Results: beat Mississippi 69-67Next up: at Mississippi Valley State (Thursday)Comment: Alissa Pili is the Pac-12 Player of the Week for her play at the Baha Mar Pink Flamingo tournament in the Bahamas. The junior forward had a 21-point, 9-rebound game in a narrow win over Ole Miss, which held the Utes more than 30 points below their season average.

4. Oregon (5-1)

Last week: 4Results: lost to North Carolina 85-79, beat Michigan State 86-78Next up: vs. Portland (Saturday)Comment: In Portland, the Ducks played largely even with No. 6 North Carolina, then rebounded to their first loss with a hard-fought win. Phillipina Kyei, the Ducks’ 6-foot-8 center, had a combined 27 rebounds between the games and freshman Grace VanSlooten had her first double-double vs. the Tar Heels.

5. Arizona (6-0)

Last week: 5Results: beat Cal Baptist 81-63, beat San Diego 86-60Next up: at New Mexico (Sunday)Comment: Guard Kailyn Gilbert broke out at The Dana on Mission Bay Thanksgiving Classic in San Diego, earning Pac-12 Freshman of the Week honors. She averaged 17.5 points including 25 against Cal Baptist. Senior Helena Pueyo scored 22 vs. San Diego.

6. Washington State (5-1)

Last week: 7Results: beat South Dakota State 61-41Next up: vs. Montana (Friday)Comment: By dominating the final three quarters vs. South Dakota State, the Cougars secured a  statement win and a one-place gain in the Hotline ratings. Depth remains a concern, but Washington State can lean on its veteran starters.

7. Oregon State (4-2)

Last week: 6Results: lost to Iowa 73-59, lost to Duke 54-41Next up: vs. Southern (Thursday)Comment: The Beavers averaged just 50 points in losses to quality opponents in Portland. But Oregon State always is competitive thanks to defense, and 6-foot-8 Jelena Mitrovic is among the Pac-12 rebounding leaders.

8. Arizona State (5-1)

Last week: 8Results: beat American 70-61, lost to Notre Dame 85-65Next up: at Grand Canyon (Wednesday)Comment: ASU was tied with No. 7 Notre Dame more than halfway through the third before the Irish took control with a 12-2 run. Tyi Skinner had a third straight 24-point game vs. American and is averaging 19.2 points per game.

9. Colorado (5-2)

Last week: 9Results: lost to Tennessee 69-51, beat Chicago State 83-32Next up: vs. Western Michigan (Wednesday)Comment: Leading scorer Quay Miller went 0-of-5 from the field before fouling out at Tennessee, where the Buffs shot just 31.5 percent overall. Colorado was without Frida Formann, who’s playing for Denmark in a Eurobasket qualifier, against the Lady Vols.

10. USC (6-0)

Last week: 10Results: beat Penn 66-60, beat Utah State 79-48Next up: vs. Cal Baptist (Wednesday)Comment: The Trojans outrebounded Penn 52-33 and led by 11 late before the final score tightened. Kadi Sissoko averaged 19 points in the two wins, and the Minnesota transfer is at 17.8 per game for the season.

11. Washington (5-1)

Last week: 11Results: beat Fordham 71-62, lost to Santa Clara 71-58Next up: vs. Seattle (Wednesday)Comment: Yes, the Huskies took a loss, but we’re sticking with them at No. 11 based on better computer metrics than Cal, including a significantly better strength of schedule. Against Santa  Clara, Washington’s bench outscored the starters 39-19.

12. California (5-1)

Last week: 12Results: beat Loyola Marymount 68-49, beat Montana 65-44Next up: vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff (Saturday)Comment: Kemery Martin averaged 17 points and Jayda Curry 15 in the Bears’ wins last week. Martin is a transfer from Utah who only played in six games last season due to injury but started 17 in 2020-21.

---

Support the Hotline: Receive three months of unlimited access for just 99 cents. Yep, that’s 99 cents for 90 days, with the option to cancel anytime. Details are here, and thanks for your support.

---

*** Send suggestions, comments and tips (confidentiality guaranteed) to pac12hotline@bayareanewsgroup.com or call 408-920-5716

*** Follow Jeff Metcalfe on Twitter: @JeffMetcalfe

*** Pac-12 Hotline is not endorsed or sponsored by the Pac-12 Conference, and the views expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the views of the Conference.