By CHRIS DUNHAM

PDT Sports Writer

There's no telling how far strong leadership can get a team.

A year ago, SSU graduated a three-year and a four-year starter. The Bears also lost one of their all-time most dynamic freshman scorers to an NCAA Division I institution.

Just before the start of this season, SSU lost its point guard for the duration of the year.

Those things could have led to the 2009-10 season being a rebuilding year for SSU. Instead, the Bears made their deepest tournament penetration since 1999, making it all the way to the national title game thanks, in large part to seniors Whitney Williams, Alison Meyer and Mallory Albers.

"They just do things right and well and to the best of their abilities," SSU head coach Robin Hagen-Smith said. "It's their heart and determination. Individually, they're top notch. Academically, they're at the top of their class. Those are the people indicative of the ones we've recruited in our program and the people we will continue to recruit. Those players can just take you to another level and that's evident (with this group)."

The three seniors have combined for more than 3,500 career points and been a part of 106 SSU victories.

Williams, who hadn't started a game before this season, broke the school record for 3-pointers made in a season. Meyer averaged 11.3 points per game and was named second-team all-tournament at the national championship. During the tournament, Meyer moved into the top 10 on SSU's all-time scoring list.

Albers, SSU's fifth all-time leading scorer, was named first-team all-tournament and a first-team All-American at this year's national championship. She also received the hustle award, given to the player who gives it all at both ends of the court.

"It's just nice to be recognized, I guess," Albers said. "You go out there and work hard for your team and aren't doing it for yourself. But then when you see that you've been recognized for something like that, it's nice that people see what you do individually. You just go out and do what you have to do for your team and if that's what you get then that's what you get."

Working day in and day out got the Bears a No. 3 seed in the NAIA Division II National Championships where they won four games and played for a national title on Tuesday.

While the Bears did not bring back the title, the Final Four appearance was the team's first in a decade. This run came after back-to-back seasons where SSU was upset in the tournament's first two rounds.

"We kept telling each other after we lost that it could have been a lot worse," Williams said. "We haven't done good in the tournament the last few years. I don't think anyone even expected us to make the Elite Eight, let alone the championship game. Making it as far as we did was just magical to us — especially the seniors. It's more than we could have dreamed of, I think. We're so proud to represent on Shawnee State and to go out how we did."

The three seniors started their collegiate careers in 2006 as part of a nine-player freshman class. Williams, Meyer and Albers are joined by redshirt junior Jill Cropper as the four remaining players from that class. Cropper returns next year, with an extra year of eligibility after missing her sophomore season with an ACL injury.

She will return as one of two seniors on an otherwise young squad that will leave the American Mideast Conference and join NAIA Division I's Mid-South Conference.

At the welcome home celebration, Meyer took the microphone and delivered a message to the younger players on the team, encouraging them to follow the lead of the trio of graduating seniors and to enjoy the time they had while they can.

"We've gone through it all," she said. "It's been a really fun year. All you underclassmen, I hope you return and keep that fire because it's a great game and it only lasts so long."

'Keeping the fire' held the group of seniors together through some of the tougher moments of a college basketball career and gave them plenty of memories.

"You know what I'm not going to think of?" Meyer asked when thinking about what she would remember down the road. "I'm not going to think of conditioning and those really (tough) practices. I'll think of all the good times. The tournament runs. The league games that went down to the wire. Those fun times with my teammates. You can't have those experiences if you're not on a team. That's what I'm going to remember."

In addition to the memories and fun times, these Bears will leave with friendships that will stretch far beyond the basketball court.

"I know we'll remain friends forever probably," Albers said. "You just remember the fun times we've had. You get to experience things most college students don't get to. Just spending half your life, it seems, on a bus. It's fun. It's different. Most people don't get to do that in college."

Most people also don't get the chance to play on their sport's biggest stage like the Bears did this season.

When the clock struck zero in the national title game, it concluded the third consecutive year the Bears' season ended with Williams, Meyer and Albers together in Sioux City. Though no more national tournaments will bring the trio together, it would not be a surprise to find these soon-to-be graduates together again sooner than later.

"We've already made plans to get together at least once a year," Meyer said. "We have been together for four years and we are all best friends. It's always fun to play basketball with your best friends. I'm going to miss them but I'm definitely going to stay in touch."

CHRIS DUNHAM can be reached at cdunham@heartlandpublications.com.