When the Arizona women's basketball team cut down the nets after claiming the National Women's Invitational Tournament title on Saturday, it was as if the program had cut down 23 years of frustration.

The Wildcats (22-8 overall, 10-8 in the Pacific 10 Conference) began play in 1973, and had never won 20 games in a single season before this year. In fact, they had never even made the postseason, much less captured a postseason title.

The 79-63 win over Northwestern capped off Arizona's best season ever, and in the eyes of many, is a herald of things to come.

"We made great strides this season," Arizona head coach Joan Bonvicini said. "This program is definitely on the rise. I have to credit the players for our success. It was their attitude that made us a winner this season, and it's that enduring attitude that will make us a winner in the future."

The Wildcats are looking to the future more than ever now that they have taken the first step to success. Yet one of the main goals for Bonvicini and the team is that they continue to move forward rather than slipping back. Arizona was only 11-19 last season and has only five winning seasons in 23 years.

"Now we have a taste of what it is like to win," sophomore Adia Barnes said. "That has given us a lot of confidence. Now we want to continue to improve and just get better next season."

The challenge of moving forward will be a difficult one, considering Arizona is losing two of its top three scorers in senior forward Andrea Constand and senior point guard Brenda Pantoja. Barnes led the team in scoring.

Constand, who had a break-out season in 1996, hit 58-of-144 3-pointers to finish second in the Pac-10 at 40 percent. She was a good defensive player as well as a consistent perimeter threat for Arizona all season. Her 394 points and 13.1 points-per-game average were a dramatic increase over her career total of 165 points and 2.3 points per game.

Without Constand, the Wildcats will likely have to rely on Mikko Giordano and Shonte Hambrick at the small forward spot. Giordano only averaged 4.2 points per game, and Hambrick only hit for 1.9. Bonvicini will be looking for someone to step up as Constand did this season.

"Constand and Pantoja worked very hard to become better this season, and that is why we were successful," Bonvicini said. "Next season, we will have to rely on others to do the same thing."

The heart and soul of the Wildcat offense, Pantoja will probably be the most difficult member to replace. The nation's leading assist woman at 9.3 per game, Pantoja set the pace for the offense and played an average of nearly 38 minutes per game.

The candidate for her replacement is most likely redshirt freshman Lisa Griffith. Griffith tore her anterior cruciate ligament during the summer and sat out most of the season in rehabilitation. Griffith, however, did practice with the team during the latter half of the season and is said to be a great 3-point shooter and good ball handler.

Sophomore DeAngela Minter and freshman Monika Crank will likely share point guard duties as well as playing the off guard.

"I think we will lose a great deal of leadership and experience next season," Minter said. "That means that other people, like myself, will have to step up and contribute more. Lisa Griffith will most likely be the point guard, and there is no question in my mind she can do the job."

The Wildcats will return one junior, four sophomores and two freshmen to next year's team. They will also be adding five freshmen in what Bonvicini calls her best recruiting class ever. Reshea Bristol, a 5-foot-10 guard, Tatum Brown, a 6-3 center, Kate Crane, a 5-10 guard, ChaRon Walker, a 6-0 forward and Felecity Willis, a 5-7 guard, will join the team next season.

With a strong group of young talent joining what will be a solid core of veteran players, the Wildcats will have a great opportunity to take the next step to the NCAA Tournament. If Bonvicini has her way, the team will be cutting down the nets once again, but this time at the Final Four.