By Kalle Oakes,Staff Writer

Jim Murphy knows he just watched his Bates College women’s basketball team become the 54th consecutive visiting team to drop a game at Bowdoin. Still, he can’t imagine a team in the second round of the NCAA Division III tournament enjoying a greater home court advantage than his own.

Alumni Gymnasium in Lewiston is so tiny that the school needed to add a few feet of hardwood to bring the court in line with NCAA regulations a few years ago. When you’re inbounding the ball, you’re practically mingling with the student body.

It’s oppressively hot, even in winter, and so loud when it’s full that you can’t hear the bouncing ball or the squeaking of high-top sneakers. Bates (24-2) hopes Emmanuel (27-2) gets to experience all the discomforts of its old-fashioned home when the New England powers meet at 2 p.m. today.

“Having it here isn’t going to hurt us. Hopefully the fire marshal stays home,” Murphy said.

Murphy said that the school has reserved its standing-room-only balcony section for faculty and staff. He’s heard that student government has offered to pay the ticket price of any Bates student attending the game.

Tickets are $4 for adults, $3 for students, and many should be available at the door.

Bates anticipates a full house for its first NCAA tournament appearance since 2000 and only its third postseason home game in history. The Bobcats lost to Clark University five years ago.

This winter, the team was ranked No. 1 in the D3hoops.com national poll for most of February, falling to No. 3 after Sunday’s 65-59 loss at Bowdoin in the NESCAC championship. Bates received a first-round bye in the NCAAs.

“We haven’t lost one here all year,” said Murphy. “It’s an advantage. I hope we make it an advantage and keep it an advantage throughout the game.”

Murphy, who was a football quarterback in his playing days at Bates, suspects this one might be won in the trenches. Both teams feature a strong frontcourt and crash the boards well without overwhelming height.

No. 13 Emmanuel kicked off its fifth straight trip to the NCAAs with a 43-41 win over Salem State on Wednesday. The Saints scrapped for 66 rebounds, half of those on the offensive glass.

Sophomore LaTeisha Johnson (10.3 points, 7.9 rebounds per game) and senior Paulette Johnson (8.6, 6.9) are both 5-foot-11. Emmanuel’s leading scorer is 5-9 junior Alyssa McCoy (10.8). Freshman guard Jade Paez hit 40 3-pointers.

The Saints avenged one of their two regular-season losses by dispatching Salem State. Emmanuel also beat Bowdoin on its home court in Boston.

“I believe Bowdoin shot 2-for-17 from 3-point land in that game,” Murphy said. “We’re going to have to stick some shots, that’s for sure.”

Emmanuel defeated two other NESCAC teams, Tufts by 7 and Colby by 11.

Bates relies heavily on New England Small College Athletic Conference Player of the Year Olivia Zurek, a senior forward who averaged 16.7 points and 9.8 rebounds per game. Sophomore center Meg Coffin (12.0 ppg, 7.3 rpg) was second-team all-NESCAC, while freshman Sarah Barton (8.2 ppg, 4.6 apg) was co-Rookie of the Year.

“We definitely need to rebound and try to get going up-and-down. The kids watch tape and see what a different team we are when we push the ball,” Murphy said, “than we are in those half-court, slugfest kind of games.”

Around the region

Three Maine teams will host games in hopes of advancing to the Sweet 16. Bates and Southern Maine would meet in next Friday’s regional semifinals at a site to be determined if both teams win.

USM (27-2) takes on Ithaca (21-7) at 2 p.m. at Hill Gymnasium in Gorham. The Huskies knocked off Maine Maritime 83-67 behind Ashley Marble’s 19 points and 12 rebounds in the first round. Ithaca guard Stephanie Cleary averages 22 points and five steals per game.

At Brunswick, Bowdoin (24-2) puts its Morrell Gym winning streak to the test against Alvernia College (24-5) of Reading, Pa., at 6 p.m.

Eileen Flaherty’s offense (15.6 ppg) and Justine Pouravelis’ all-around play lead the Polar Bears. Pouravelis and Flaherty are one-two on the team, respectively, in rebounds, steals and blocked shots.

Alvernia advanced by squelching SUNY-Brockport, 60-38. It’s the sixth NCAA appearances for the Crusaders. Bowdoin, which received an automatic bid and a bye, was Division III runner-up in 2004.