The Big 12 women’s basketball power rankings according to Kansan reporter Andrew Wiebe. Every Tuesday the Kansan will rank Big 12 teams based on last week’s performance and the next week’s schedule. Last week’s ranking is in parentheses.

One (1)

No. 9 Baylor 22-3 [10-2]

Last week: at Texas (L), Oklahoma (W)

This week: at Iowa State

If not for Baylor’s 20 point victory against center Courtney Paris and Oklahoma, Kansas State would have risen to number one in these rankings. Although losing to the Longhorns early in the week was disappointing, the Bears took care of business at home against the Sooners in a must-win game. Baylor will get a week to rest before facing off against the Cyclones on Saturday. They should beat Iowa State, but Hilton Coliseum is one of the loudest venues in the conference and the Cyclones are on a roll.

Two (2)

No. 15 Kansas State 18-6 [10-1]

Last week: at Iowa State (W), at Missouri (W)

This week: Oklahoma, at Colorado

Two road games against Big 12 North opponents and two wins for Deb Patterson’s Wildcats. If Kansas State can follow up last week’s performance with two more wins, pencil them in for the top spot on this list and odds-on favorites for the Big 12 regular season championship. The Wildcats get the Sooners at home where they’ve lost only once in conference play. The matchup between Marlies Gipson and Courtney Paris will exhibit two of the best post players in the country. If Gipson can get the better of Paris look for K-State to finish the week 12-1.

Three (4)

No. 11 Oklahoma 18-5 [8-3]

Last week: Texas A&M (W), at Baylor (L)

This week: at Kansas State, Oklahoma State

In the victory against the Aggies, Courtney Paris and the Sooners shot nearly 50 percent from the field while limiting their opponents to 39 percent shooting. Against Baylor those numbers reversed themselves. Oklahoma never got into an offensive rhythm shooting 36 percent and sent their Big 12 South rivals to the free throw line 40 times. This week Sherri Coale and her team won’t get a break from the Big 12 grind, but they have another chance to vault themselves to the top of the standings.

Four (3)

No. 16 Oklahoma State 20-4 [8-3]

Last week: at Texas Tech (W), Iowa State (L)

This week: Texas, at Oklahoma

Last week wasn’t a banner week for Andrea Riley and the Cowgirls, but they’ll have two opportunities to make up for that this week. With two victories, Oklahoma State could officially call this season a success. Not only would two victories avenge their January loss to the Longhorns, but the Cowgirls would also boast two wins over their in-state rivals and a legitimate shot at a top-three seed in the NCAA Tournament.

Five (5)

No. 21 Texas A&M 18-7 [6-5]

Last week: at Oklahoma (L), Texas Tech (W)

This week: Iowa State, at Texas

The Aggies are poised to control their own destiny. Though Texas A&M will need to get through this week unscathed, its last three games will be against the likes of Oklahoma State, Baylor and Oklahoma. Two wins this week could give Gary Blair’s team the momentum they need to make a late push. The Aggies certainly have the talent, but as their early struggles can attest, talent isn’t always enough.

Six (8)

Iowa State 16-8 [5-6]

Last week: Kansas State (L), at Oklahoma State (W)

This week: at Texas A&M, Baylor

Iowa State makes this week’s biggest jump by going to Stillwater and beating the Cowgirls. Even after losing most of their interior firepower to injury, Cyclones coach Bill Fennelly has the team contending for a NCAA tournament bid. Iowa State could cement their status as a tournament team with wins this week, but it won’t come easy. The Cyclones will rely on their raucous crowd to rattle Baylor, and if they get hot from behind the arc, there is no reason they can’t come away with a victory.

Seven (7)

Texas 16-9 [4-7]

Last week: Baylor (W), at Colorado (L)

This week: at Oklahoma State, Texas A&M

Texas protected its home court against arguably the Big 12’s best team. Unfortunately, the Longhorns couldn’t follow that up with a victory on the road against the Buffaloes. It doesn’t get any easier this week when Texas collides with two top-25 teams playing with an NCAA Tournament bid possibly on the line. To beat Oklahoma State and Texas A&M, Texas will have to play lockdown perimeter defense or Andrea Riley and Takia Starks could crush its NCAA hopes.

Eight (9)

Kansas 15-9 [4-7]

Last week: Colorado (W), Nebraska (W)

This week: at Texas Tech, at Missouri

Bonnie Henrickson’s team looked dead in the water after a 1-7 start to Big 12 play. After winning three out of their last four games, postseason now looks like a good possibility for Kansas. Last week the Jayhawks proved they could win at home. This week Kansas will have to do what even the Big 12 elite struggle with, and win on the road. Though both games are winnable, Kansas has yet to win a Big 12 road game and even one victory wouldn’t be a disaster.

Nine (6)

Nebraska 17-8 [6-5]

Last week: at Kansas (L)

This week: Missouri, at Texas Tech

The Cornhuskers dropped in the rankings because of what teams below them did. A close game to Kansas in Lawrence was a game that Nebraska could have won, but making 17 of 34 free throws is not a recipe for victory. This week’s schedule isn’t the most challenging, but Texas Tech has wins over Texas and Colorado in Lubbock so a trip there can’t be overlooked.

Ten (11)

Colorado 14-11 [3-9]

Last week: at Kansas (L), Texas (W)

This week: Kansas State

A week of rest will be welcomed by Colorado after an up-and-down week in which it lost convincingly to Kansas and then used home-court advantage to send Texas back to Austin with a 15 point loss. The Buffaloes have an opportunity to give the Wildcats their second conference loss and first to an opponent from the Big 12 North. Boulder isn’t an easy place to play, and Deb Patterson’s squad shouldn’t walk over Colorado.

Eleven (10)

Texas Tech 14-11 [2-9]

Last week: Oklahoma State (L), at Texas A&M (L)

This week: Kansas, Nebraska

After another winless week, the Lady Raiders get two games to find a win at home. Kansas is one of the hottest teams in the conference, but Bonnie Henrickson knows how difficult it will be to beat Texas Tech in Lubbock. Henrickson said the Lady Raiders are a completely different team when playing within the friendly confines of United Spirit Arena, where they draw more than 9,000 fans per game.

Twelve (12)

Missouri 8-16 [1-10]

Last week: Kansas State (L)

This week: at Nebraska, Kansas

The odds favor that the Tigers will spend the remainder of the season in the cellar. Missouri just can’t buy a win at this point. Against Kansas State, Missouri barely reached 40 points, and Nebraska won’t be any kinder. The Cornhuskers will be smarting-off from a narrow defeat to the Jayhawks in Lawrence and could be looking to take out their frustration on the overmatched Tigers.

—Edited by Nick Mangiaracina