Women’s college basketball Power Rankings

The big Monday showdown between No. 1 South Carolina and No. 2 UConn in the Battle 4 Atlantis championship game (noon ET, ESPN/ESPN App) will decide, for now, which is the top team in the country. But Maryland, sitting at third in the Associated Press Top 25 poll, might have something to say about that before the season is over.

The 6-0 Terps passed their first real test Sunday, beating visiting sixth-ranked Baylor 79-76. Guard Ashley Owusu led four Maryland players in double figures with 24 points and had six assists.

Critics might point out that the Terps were outrebounded 43-39 and made 28 shots from the field to Baylor’s 33. But even if Maryland didn’t win the board battle, the Terps scored 17 second-chance points to Baylor’s seven, and they were 17-of-18 from the foul line, compared with Baylor’s 4-of-5.

Maryland also got good news with the return of junior guard Diamond Miller, who had been out with knee soreness. She didn’t score in a 4-minute outing against UNC Wilmington on Thursday, her first action of the season. But she had five points and four rebounds in 11 minutes against Baylor.

The Terps, who brought back almost their entire roster from last season, will find out more about themselves this week. At the Baha Mar Pink Flamingo tournament in the Bahamas, they’ll meet fellow top-10 teams NC State (Thursday) and Stanford (Saturday).

Sophomore wing Angel Reese has soared so far this season, averaging a double-double at 19.0 points and 11.5 rebounds, along with 2.8 steals. Reese is one of six Terps who are averaging double-figure scoring for a team that, like last season, will have one of the top offenses in the country. The Terps are averaging 91.8 PPG, while allowing 63.0.

Against the best opponents, can Maryland’s defense be good…