Latest News

Coach Jim Murphy couldn't hide his excitement following Bates' NCAA win over Emmanuel.

LEWISTON, Maine — The 2004-05 Bates College women's basketball team won a school record 25 games, finishing the year at 25-3 and going on a run through the NCAA Division III tournament, ending with a heartbreaking 67-64 loss to the University of Southern Maine in the Sweet 16 on March 11.

Ranked No. 1 in the country from Feb. 8 to Feb. 29, the Bobcats finished the year ranked No. 6 by D3hoops.com and the USA Today/ESPN Top 25 National Coaches’ Poll.

Unranked at the beginning of the season, the Bobcats made their fifth appearance in the NCAA tournament and tied the school record for consecutive wins, winning 12 from Nov. 19 to Jan. 11. Bates finished second in NESCAC for the third straight year.

The Bobcats were led by forward Olivia Zurek (Arlington, Mass.), who was named All-Everything her senior year. The leading rebounder (885) and second-leading scorer (1,440) in Bates history, Zurek was named one of 10 Kodak Women’s Basketball Coaches’ Association All-Americans. She was also named a first team All-American by D3hoops.com.

All-American Olivia Zurek '05

One of Bates’ co-captains, Zurek was named first-team All-NESCAC and the New England Small College Athletic Conference player of the year; she led the league in scoring and rebounding, averaging 16.7 points and 9.8 boards per game. She was also named to the NESCAC All-Academic team along with Annie Whiting ’06 (Contoocook, N.H.). Zurek was an All-NESCAC selection academically and athletically her sophomore and junior years.

Named ECAC Division III women’s basketball player of the year, Zurek was also voted player of the year by the New England Women’s Basketball Association and the Maine Women’s Basketball Coaches’ Association.

Setting a school record for points scored in a season (466), Zurek was named NESCAC player of the week three times her senior season and six times over her career. Twice she was named Maine State player of the week this past winter. Complementing her proficiency in scoring and rebounding, Zurek also led the NESCAC in steals per game (2.85). She finished the year with 14 double-doubles.

Zurek, who was one of 10 finalists for the Josten’s player of the year award, received MVP honors at two holiday tournaments: the St. Joseph’s (Maine) tournament and the Williams Winter Classic. Along with fellow senior Heather Taylor (Nobleboro, Maine), Zurek was selected to play at the NEWBA Senior Classic, an all-star game to be held at Babson College on April 10.

Meg Coffin '07

Primarily a post player, Meg Coffin '07 (Westford, Mass.) complemented Zurek’s perimeter play and drive-to-the-hoop mentality. Coffin averaged 12 points and seven boards per game, earning second team All-NESCAC status. She was also named second team All-New England by NEWBA and second team All-Maine by MWBCA.

Sarah Barton ’08 (Portsmouth, N.H.) was named NESCAC co-rookie of the year along with Amherst’s Matia Kostakis ’08 (Andover, Mass.). Transferring to Bates in the fall, Kostakis will play for the Bobcats next season.

A point guard who led Bates in 3-point shooting, Barton was named MWBCA rookie of the year and a third team D3hoops.com All-Northeast selection. She dished out nearly five assist per game.

Jim Murphy ’69 was named NESCAC, NEWBA and MWBCA coach of the year. Previously, Murphy was named NESCAC coach of the year in 1998. On Feb. 1, he recorded his 200th career win in 11 seasons, a 74-62 drubbing over visiting Bowdoin College.

Sarah Barton '08

The 2004-05 campaign was the most memorable and successful season in the program’s history.

A list of records broken:

• Set the school record for wins (25)

• Tied the school record for consecutive wins (12)

• Set the school record for points scored in a season (2,082)

• Set the school record for fewest points allowed in a game (18 against the University of Maine at Presque Isle on Dec. 10, 2004)

• Set the school record for margin of victory (91, beating UMPI 109-18 on Dec. 10, 2004)

• Set the school record for field goals attempted in a season (1,945)

• Set the school record for field goals made in a season (806)

• Set the school record for 3-pointers attempted in a season (453)

• Set the school record for 3-pointers made in a season (132)

• Set the school record for rebounds in a season (1,261)

• Set the school record for assists in a season (509)