STORYLINE & RULES » e Russias Evgeny Plushenko in 2005 and 2006

NEW YORK -- Top-ranked Notre Dame cruised to an easy win in its opener. The rest of the Top 25 didnt face much of a challenge either.That will change Monday night as eight of the top 12 teams in The Associated Press womens college basketball poll will square off against each other in four tasty early season matchups.The Irish won their first game by 60 points to remain the top choice in the poll released Monday, the first of the regular season. They received 14 first-place votes from a 33-member national media panel, holding on to their slim four-point lead over Baylor. Notre Dame hosts Fordham in the second round of the Preseason WNIT on Monday night.The Lady Bears, who garnered 12 first-place ballots, have a much tougher game as they host No. 9 UCLA. Third-ranked UConn visits No. 12 Florida State.In other games between top teams Monday, No. 4 South Carolina plays seventh-ranked Ohio State and eight-ranked Texas heads to 11th-ranked Stanford.There certainly are a lot of great games early on, UCLA coach Cori Close said in early November at a national media day held at ESPN. Teams are challenging themselves.The Huskies, who have won four straight national championships and 75 consecutive games, host Baylor on Thursday. Geno Auriemmas team will play six of the other top eight teams in the country over the course of the regular season.Somebody said, what are you thinking making that kind of schedule in November? Auriemma said last month. Well, Ive always been one that (doesnt) want any surprises come March. I want to go into March feeling like we put ourselves through a lot of tests. Were going to pass some and were going to fail some. How do you get tough? Sometimes you have to fail.Not many ranked teams failed in opening weekend as they went 28-1, with the loss coming when No. 19 Kentucky beat 14th-ranked Miami. The Wildcats moved up to 15 while the Hurricanes fell to 22.Throw that game out, and Top 25 teams won by an average of nearly 37 points.---The poll and the voters selections can be found online at: http://collegebasketball.ap.org/womens-ap-top-25-week-2 Greg Olsen Panthers Jersey .500 on the season. The Jets are now 0-5-1 in the second game of back-to-backs. The game started the same way the Vancouver game started the night before, with the Jets taking the first two penalties of the game and killing off the first, but the Oilers getting on the board first, scoring on the second man-advantage. Curtis Samuel Panthers Jersey . -- In a span of seven Washington Redskins offensive plays, Justin Tuck sacked Robert Griffin III four times. http://www.thepanthersofficialstore.com/authentic-ryan-kalil-panthers-jersey/ . John Tavares, Thomas Vanek and Kyle Okposo were also being counted on to slow down sizzling Rangers forward Rick Nash. That plan didnt go so well early. Greg Little Panthers Jersey . Fernandez, coached in Toronto by former two-time Olympic silver medallist Brian Orser, scored 267.11 points and is the first champion to successfully defend since Russias Evgeny Plushenko in 2005 and 2006. Greg Little Youth Jersey . Down by seven with 90 seconds left in regulation, thats where they looked comfortable. England have secured third place in the Quad Series netball tournament with a convincing 57-44 win over South Africa.With Australia and New Zealand battling for the main trophy, winless England and South Africa went head to head in the first game of the double header at Melbournes Margaret Court Arena.South Africa, who are coached by former Australian mentor Norma Plummer, got off to a promising start aand had a two goal lead at quarter-time.ddddddddddddBut world No.3 England clicked into gear in the second period to build a four goal margin.That blew out to nine points heading into the quarter with veteran English shooter Jo Harten finishing with 38 goals from 42 attempts. ' ' '