By Kevin Mills,Staff Writer

LEWISTON – As she typed anxiously, Olivia Zurek wasn’t completely sure what she’d discover.

She knew the Bates College women’s basketball team might make a significant jump in the latest standings. As she perused the internet for the latest poll Monday night, even she wasn’t convinced a No. 1 ranking was probable.

“We knew there was a chance, but I didn’t think any of us expected to get it,” said Zurek. “We thought we’d at least be in the running.”

Zurek rooms with senior teammates Elizabeth Blakeley, Betsy Hochadel and Heather Taylor. She looked for the D3.com poll on Blakeley’s computer. When she discovered the Bobcats were indeed the top-ranked Division III team in the nation, she quickly relayed the news.

“I just saw that Bates was No.1 , and I ran out and yelled to everyone,” said Zurek.

Bates was ranked fourth in the D3.com poll a week ago with Bowdoin atop the standings. When the Bobcats beat the Polar Bears convincingly, 74-62, there was hope that Bates could have its first No. 1 ranked team ever.

“We thought it was a possibility,” said Hochadel. “We’d been playing real strong, and then to beat Bowdoin, who was the No. 1 team, we knew it could be between us and Bowdoin.”

Bates was also ranked second in the USA Today/ESPN Top 25 this week. The Bobcats finish the regular season Friday at Amherst and Saturday at Trinity.

Though the squad is excited about its current standing, they’re trying to keep it in perspective.

“It felt great,” said Hochadel. “It was more fun than anything, but also rewarding to know that the hard work had paid off for other people to see.”

Of course, the work isn’t done yet. Bates lost to Bowdoin in the NESCAC championship game the last two years. Coach Jim Murphy still points out that the Bobcats are currently second to Bowdoin in the conference. Bates only loss was a 67-48 loss in Brunswick.

“We’re staying grounded,” said Hochadel. “We realize that it doesn’t really mean anything unless we keep winning games. It’s a great side accomplishment that we can say that we accomplished.”

It doesn’t help the Bobcats in its conference playoffs, which begin with a quarterfinal at Bates February 19. The top-ranking could help earn an at-large bid for the national tournament. That only comes into play if Bates doesn’t win the conference championship and the automatic bid that comes with it. It has been rare for two NESCAC teams to reach the national tournament though.

“I think it’s too early for that,” said Murphy about implications for an at-large bid. “We could lose one of our next two or lose in the first round of the tournament.

“Our first goal is to win the conference tournament.”

The Bobcats know the top ranking can be a blessing but also a challenge.

“I think we have to be prepared that we’re going to get every team’s best,” said Murphy, who achieved his 200th career victory in the Bowdoin game. “It’s like when we played Bowdoin. How many teams get to play the No. 1 team in the country. I think we have to be prepared for every team’s maximum effort.”

Before, the Bobcats would look at the No. 1 team with a sense of awe and wonder. Now that Bates is on top, it is a bit surreal for a team adjusting to such lofty status. Still, they also understand the sky is the limit.

“If we’re No. 1 now, why can’t we be at the end of the whole thing?” asks Zurek.