Every day Shanna-Lei Dacanay goes to practice, one look in the rafters reminds her of the reason she chose Washington University in St. Louis for college.

“;They got those four (national championship) banners hanging up and I see them every day,”; Dacanay said. “;And I want to get another one.”;

  The former Punahou standout had a tough decision on her hands when choosing where to continue her basketball career.

Stay closer to home, where most of her friends were going to college, or take a chance and head to the Midwest to play for a powerhouse?

“;I remember when I had to decide where I wanted to go, my parents were urging me more to go (to Washington) and I kind of didn't want to because so many of my friends were going to school on the West Coast,”; Dacanay said.

“;Women's basketball at this school has a pretty rich tradition. Knowing I could possibly win a national championship, even if it was Division III, was a very enticing option.”;

The Bears won 81 games during a run of four straight NCAA Division III national championships from 1998 to 2001.

By the time Dacanay arrived on campus in 2005, Washington University had won at least 22 games in each of the previous eight seasons, but was coming off a surprise loss in the NCAA Division III regional semifinals.

Surrounded by some of the best conference's best players, Dacanay wasn't phased by the sudden jump in talent.

Despite not starting her freshman season, Dacanay played valuable minutes for the Bears, averaging 6.5 points and dishing out 97 assists in 28 games.

Her efforts earned her University Athletic Association rookie of the year and honorable mention all-conference honors. On the court, it seemed Dacanay couldn't have been doing better, but off the court, it was a different story.

“;It was a rough transition,”; Dacanay said. “;I didn't really like it my freshman year. (Basketball) was probably the only reason I stayed. It was something I looked forward to all the time and it kind of got me through my freshman year.”;

Her momentum from her freshman year stayed with her to open her sophomore campaign. She earned a starting guard spot, and was averaging close to 11 points and three assists a game when an ACL injury put a quick and sudden end to her season.

“;I believe everything happens for a reason, so it was tough, but I guess I got something out of it,”; Dacanay said. “;When things are not going your way, you've just got to bounce back.

“;Even if it's not easy, it's just better to get it done. I feel like I'm finally back to my normal self physically since that injury.”;

She returned her junior season to lead all Division III basketball players in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.83), but the Bears failed to advance past the regional final. They finished 19-8 that season, a good year for most, but not at Washington University, where expectations soar through the roof.

“;It definitely was a down year,”; Dacanay said. “;I think we were young last year and it's no excuse, but our post who got hurt last year is back and everyone is just more experienced.”;

The Bears are in New York tonight for a game against Rochester, the No. 1 ranked team in Division III. Washington University is 11-3, but has won seven in a row, and can make a statement that it's ready to retake the conference crown with a win.

“;I know we lost a couple of tough games early, but I think this is definitely a matchup of the two best teams in our conference,”; Dacanay said. “; I think we're just getting used to playing with each other in the context of the offense and we're rolling now.”;