Minnesota’s women’s basketball team moved up to No. 19 in this week’s AP Top 25 Women’s Basketball Poll, released Monday. It’s the Gophers’ third consecutive appearance in the top 25 since they cracked the poll at No. 23. The Gophers beat Illinois, 78-73, on Sunday in Champaign to finish their Big Ten regular season with nine wins in their last 10 games and a 13-5 conference record, tied for fourth place with No. 11 Ohio State. They earned the No. 4 seed in this week’s conference tournament in Indianapolis because they beat the Buckeyes on Feb. 18. The Gophers (22-7) won’t play until Friday in the tournament quarterfinals against Ohio State or the winner of a first-round game between Nebraska and Wisconsin. Minnesota earned 226 points in this week’s AP poll. Six other Big Ten teams were ranked this week, including No. 2 UCLA, No. 8 Michigan, No. 9 Iowa, No. 14 Maryland and No. 18 Michigan State. Washington and Illinois also received votes. Related Articles Women’s basketball: Gophers hold off Illinois, cinch No. 4 seed in Big Ten tournament Women’s basketball: Win streak dead, Gophers vow to focus on what’s next Women’s basketball: Gophers jump to No. 22 in AP Top 25 poll Gophers women’s basketball: Second-half surge leads Spartans past Minnesota Gophers women’s basketball: Relaxed, having fun, and winning ...read more read less