The significance of the women's basketball team's second-round victory over Mount Saint Mary College didn't register with captain forward Cassidy Dadaos '09 right away. It had escaped her mind even though she admitted she could not help but consider, prior to last weekend's games, that each season in her collegiate career had ended with a loss in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. But at this moment, with the Judges well on their way to a third-round NCAA Tournament appearance, Dadaos was still on the court while fellow seniors Lauren Orlando '09 and Amanda Wells '09 were on the bench. The whistle blew, and Dadaos was substituted out. As she jogged to the bench, she took a hug from coach Carol Simon and finally remembered that a big weight could be lifted from the team's shoulders.

"It didn't hit me until I realized [Simon] never hugs me after I come out," Dadaos joked.

Last Saturday's 79-52 win over Mount Saint Mary put the Judges in the third round for the first time in school history, but for Simon and the team's seniors, the monkey was larger than that. For the last three years, they were the living proof of the program's most successful period in its history, but they were also living proof of a squad that was unable to take that next step. Each year, they were good enough to make the NCAA Tournament, but never good enough to become a serious contender for the Final Four. With their wins last weekend, this year's team has finally taken that next step.

"Usually, in this meeting, you see a lot of tears," Simon told reporters in the post-game press conference. "Now, you're seeing a lot of smiles."

Prior to the start of this season, it seemed this year's squad would take a step back rather than a step forward. Forward Jaime Capra '08, last year's University Athletic Association Player of the Year, graduated, leaving the Judges without a marquee star for the first time in six years. Like most years, the Judges raced through their New England non-conference competition undefeated, but after nine UAA games, the Judges were just 3-6 and in danger of missing the NCAA Tournament altogether. Worse yet, starting point guard Lauren Rashford '10 suffered a season-ending knee injury, forcing the Judges to play without one of their key performers as they made a push towards the postseason.

But the Judges rallied as they had played all season-with several performers stepping up to the task. Rookie guard Morgan Kendrew '12 entered the starting lineup and averaged 8.2 points, 4 rebounds and 2.4 assists in the team's last nine games. Fellow rookie guard Kelly Ethier '12 emerged in the postseason as the team's top substitute. Guard Jessica Chapin '10, already the team's most dangerous offensive threat, took on much of the point guard duties, a major burden that she bore well, even as she played nearly every minute in both tournament games.

Then, there were Orlando, Dadaos and Wells, the three senior inside players. When the Judges fell 10 points behind Western Connecticut in the second half last Friday, it was Orlando and her 15 second-half points that led the Judges back. One day later, with the Judges already running away from Mount Saint Mary just four minutes into the game, it was Wells who asserted Brandeis' interior dominance when she swatted junior forward Shannon Sangster's shot back into her face. Dadaos, beyond her on-court play, was the emotional leader, running to find a teammate to pump up after each play and standing to applaud her club's effort while on the bench.

"If for some reason, you think you can't do it or you can't practice, you better look into those seniors' eyes and tell them you can't do it," Simon said after the second-round win. "When you're a senior, you have a different sense of urgency left, and I think that was really [what made the difference]. They gave great leadership throughout the whole season."

Orlando, Dadaos, Wells and guard Lauren Goyette '09 were members of the program throughout its resurgence. When asked what made this year's team different from the previous three, they all responded with the same answer.

"There's not one big gun out there this year," Wells said, "Everyone is getting a chance; it seems like we're more of a balanced team."

So it's on to uncharted territory for the Judges, as they will face Muhlenberg College in an attempt to take another couple steps forward. Despite the program's non-existent history past the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament, it's a moment Simon has long kept in mind. Her office is adorned with several decorations, but the large wall to the left of the entrance remains empty, even though she said several of her former players have asked for her to fill it with pictures.

Simon calls it her "Final Four wall." The Judges are just two more steps away from beginning to fill it.