Stanford coach Tara VanDerveer has had many really good teams over the past few seasons, reaching the Final Four the last five years.

Yet none of those teams was ever No. 1. She finally has a top-ranked team again.

Stanford took over the top spot in The Associated Press poll Monday from Baylor after ending the Lady Bears' 42-game winning streak. The Cardinal barely edged Connecticut for the top spot in the poll. Stanford received 21 first-place votes, while Connecticut had 17. Baylor got the other one.

"I have great respect for so many teams out there," VanDerveer said. "I don't think it's a one-horse race or two-horse race. There are a lot of really good teams out there."

It's the Cardinal's first time at No. 1 since the final poll of the 2005 season.

"I can think of a lot of teams that we have had that might beat this team, but it is only November," VanDerveer said. "During the last few years, there have been some very dominant teams. UConn with back-to-back national championships, Baylor's team last year. It brings great positive attention to women's basketball on the West Coast. We're happy to hold the banner for West Coast basketball."

Stanford has been No. 1 two other times, holding the top spot for a six-week stretch in 1996 and in the preseason poll in 1992.

The Cardinal (5-0) jumped from fourth after beating former No. 1 Baylor 71-69 on Friday night. Baylor was first in the previous 21 polls.