There's a learning curve that goes with winning a championship. Knowing what it takes to capture a title is often just as important as having the ability.

"When I was in high school at Wampum and playing for Butler Hennon, we were 26-1, but we lost to Shannock Valley in the WPIAL [Class AA] championship game," said Geneva College women's coach Ron Galbreath. "The following year, I don't think we had as good a team, but we won the WPIAL and the [PIAA] titles.

"We understood better the second year what it takes to win in a tournament like that. We were just better prepared for what was going to happen."

That was in 1957 and '58, but coaches and players continue to talk about how just getting to a tournament or championship game set their team up for a title run.

Galbreath hopes it works for his women's team.

Geneva won the American Mideast Conference title this past season and advanced to the NAIA Division II tournament for the first time. But the Golden Tornadoes lost to Mid-American Nazarene, 86-64, in a first-round game. Geneva shot just 17 percent (5 for 28) in the first half.

"I think we were a little nervous at the beginning," Galbreath said. "I was worried about that happening. That's why it would have been nice for us to have made it that far last season, so we could get out feet wet.

"The first half hurt us, but it's different when you're in a big arena against a pretty good team that is big."

Still, Geneva finished with a school-record 24 wins and just five losses. And Galbreath's team, with three of its top four scorers returning, has a bright future.

The two top returnees will be Allyson Clarke, a 6-foot junior, and Renee Rawding, a 5-9 sophomore. Clarke, a South Side Beaver High School graduate, was Geneva's leading scorer and rebounder at 15.5 points and 9.4 rebounds per game. She earned AMC first-team honors.

Rawding, from Blackhawk, averaged 11.8 points and 3.7 rebounds a game. Also back next year will be Lauren Uranker, a 5-5 junior from South Fayette. She was Geneva's super sub, averaging 8.2 ppg off the bench.

Clarke has scored more than 1,000 points and will finish among the team leaders in points and rebounds when she's done playing.

"She'd have a lot more points if dummy Galbreath had played her more as a freshman and sophomore," Galbreath said. "Allyson and Renee will be our co-captains next season and players we'll look to for leadership."

Galbreath's problem will be replacing his backcourt of Jackie Anthony, the team's third-leading scorer at 10.7 ppg., and Kylee Kittner. That won't be easy, although Uranker will probably step into a guard spot.

"They were a great tandem," Galbreath said of Anthony and Kittner. "When they were both on their game and playing well, we were pretty close to unbeatable."

After a short vacation, Galbreath has been out on the recruiting trail. He considers the Geneva women's team as a great opportunity for area players.

"There is a chance for them to come in and play and get a great education in a Christian environment," he said. "I sub a lot and use a lot of players, so there's a great opportunity there."

He has commitments from three players -- 5-9 Christine Slater of Center, 5-9 Chris Carugati of Beaver and 5-7 Megan Hartwig of North Allegheny. Plus, Stevie Goist, a 5-4 guard from Columbiana, Ohio, who redshirted this past season, should be ready to go.

"It was an exciting season and we accomplished a great deal," said Galbreath, who completed his fifth season with the Golden Tornadoes. "But we like to think the best is yet to come."