KEVIN B. KLAUS/Arizona Daily Wildcat UA freshman center Shawntinice Polk was named the Pac-10 Player of the Week. She is the first Arizona freshman to be given the award in six years.

After a blowout win over previously eighth-ranked Georgia and an overtime loss to Louisiana State, the current No. 2 team in the nation, the Wildcats cracked The Associated Press Top 25 ranking list for the first time since the 2000-2001 season.

Arizona (2-1) made its 2002-2003 season debut in the polls yesterday at No. 21.

The last time the Wildcats were in the AP poll was Feb. 5, 2001, when they were No. 22.

"We're excited to be ranked," head coach Joan Bonvicini said. "The players have worked hard for this and we just want to continue to grow as a team."

Arizona received nine points in last week's poll, but the Wildcats' 70-49 win over the Lady Bulldogs propelled the team into the Top 25 ranking. No. 8 Georgia is the highest-ranked team the Wildcats have ever beaten.

Yesterday, the Pacific 10 Conference named freshman center Shawntinice Polk the Pac-10 Women's Basketball Player of the Week for Nov. 25 ö Dec. 1.

Over the week, Polk averaged 13 points, 15.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists and two blocks per game.

The Wildcats were 2-0 during that week, and Polk played a large role in both wins. Polk put together her third double-double of the season with 10 points and a game-high 17 rebounds against No. 8 Georgia. She helped the Wildcats to the biggest win in the program's history.

Polk scored 16 points and had 14 rebounds while leading Arizona to an 80-68 win at Pepperdine on Nov. 25 in Malibu, Calif. Thirteen of those points came in the decisive second half.

Polk is the first Arizona freshman player in six years to win the conference award and the 25th overall in the history of the program.

This was the first week that the Pac-10 has given out the award this season.