SPOKANE, Wash. -- Pitt women's basketball coach Agnus Berenato is not one to wax nostalgic and reminisce about the past. Berenato always has an eye toward the future, which is a big reason the Panthers are emerging as a national presence.

But Berenato did take a minute early yesterday morning to reflect on the historic season her Panthers had just completed.

"I'm not really good at strolling down memory lane," Berenato said after Pitt lost to Stanford, 72-53, in an NCAA West Region semifinal game at Spokane Arena.

"I don't have a very good memory. I don't remember who I met five minutes ago. But I do live for today and I enjoy everything and every minute of what we do. And I feel like it was a great year for us."

The Panthers set a new standard for the program this season. Among the many accomplishments are:

• Advanced to the Sweet 16 for the first time in school history.

• Tied a school record with 24 victories.

• Beat a Top 10 team for the first time with a victory against No. 9 Notre Dame in the Big East tournament.

• Beat a Top 20 team on the road with a 29-point triumph at No. 15 DePaul.

• And beat a school-record five ranked opponents.

Those achievements came five years after Berenato was hired to resurrect a program that had fallen on hard times. When Berenato was hired, Pitt had more losses than any other team in Big East history. The Panthers had seven losing seasons in the previous eight years.

Now, the Panthers are an emerging Big East power that has won 48 games the past two seasons, including the first three NCAA tournament wins in the program's history.

"It's hard to lose," Berenato said. "But I don't think we are losers. [Saturday night] was a double win for Pittsburgh. I really believe that because I feel like Pitt women's basketball has been embraced by the community of Pittsburgh as well as the university.

"And I think that five years ago that was something that my staff and I were brought here to do. We were brought here to be healers. It's about the people. I think we really need to keep that in perspective. I think the university and community have a lot to be really proud of."

Pitt will lose two important players who helped to lay the foundation for the program's successes.

Marcedes Walker will graduate next month. She became the second player in school history to score 1,000 points and pull down 1,000 rebounds.

Walker finished her career with 1,870 points, which is the fourth-most in school history behind Lorri Johnson (2,312), Jennifer Bruce (2,295) and Debbie Lewis (1,941).

Walker is the school's all-time leading rebounder with 1,162. She broke a 29-year record that was previously held by Wanda Randolph.

Mallorie Winn, who received a sixth season of eligibility from the NCAA after a knee injury ended her season last year, will not return, either. Winn followed Berenato from Georgia Tech and played point guard for two seasons.

Winn ran the team the second half of this season after Jania Sims left for academic reasons. She scored 1,028 points as a college player and her leadership will be missed.

But, Berenato has built a program that can withstand the graduation of key players.

The Panthers will be strong again next season with the return of three starters, including leading scorer Shavonte Zellous, a first-team all-Big East selection.

Zellous averaged more than 18 points per game this season and will be an All-American candidate next season.

Junior forward Xenia Stewart and sophomore forward Sophronia Sallard also return, along with a talented freshman class that includes Taneisha Harrison, Shayla Scott and Chelsea Cole.

"To the seniors, they were just a pleasure," Berenato said. "I don't look at it as if they're leaving or their careers are over. It's just the beginning. I think they will have great careers. We have next year, and we'll start working. I wish we could play another game tomorrow."