PITTSBURGH — The wait was worth it.

After sitting out the first 11 games this season awaiting eligibility following her transfer from Florida State, Olivia Bresnahan became an impact player for the Duquesne University women’s basketball team this season.

And that’s something she wasn’t expecting.

“It came so suddenly,” the Butler graduate said of her ascension into the Dukes’ starting lineup. “I was just hoping to get on the floor and contribute.

“Every player wants minutes and I was grateful for mine. But at the same time, I worked hard for it.”

The 5-foot-11 Bresnahan averaged 8.4 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.9 assists and tallied 28 steals this season. She averaged 31.1 minutes per game and started 18 of the 20 games she played.

Duquesne finished the regular season 19-12, 10-6 in Atlantic 10 conference play, and dropped a 45-41 decision to Fordham in the A-10 tournament semifinals.

The Dukes accepted a bid to the WNIT Monday night — their sixth straight postseason appearance — and will host Mount St. Mary’s (19-13) Friday with the game time to be determined.

“Olivia has the ability to really drive it ... She got to the basket, created penetration,” Duquesne coach Dan Burt said. “That’s something our team lacked before she got here.

“She improved at the foul line, had some good games there. Now we’re looking for more consistency from here that way as well.”

Bresnahan sank 70 of 106 free throws this season, a 66 percent success rate.

A team captain this year, she is the first to admit the Dukes’ won-loss record should have been better.

“We just didn’t finish games — or the season —well enough,” Bresnahan said. “We lost a lot of leads that we had late in games. We were up by 20 in the second half of a game and lost. We were 8-1 in the conference, in first place at one time, then we hit a rough stretch.

“We have a lot of talent here. It’s just a matter of putting it together for 40 minutes.”

Bresnahan scored a career-high 19 points against West Virginia this year. She never scored more than 10 points in a game with Florida State.

Next season, she will be counted on to score a lot more.

“I’ll have to look for my shot a lot more, become more aggressive as a scorer,” Bresnahan admitted. “I can’t be as passive offensively. We’re going to need more production from me.

“Our three guards were versatile enough that we could all run the point and we all did, depending on how the play developed. It was fun playing ball in a system like that.”

Bresnahan ranked fifth on the team in scoring this season. Three of the four players in front of her — Wumi Agunbiade at 15.8 points per game, Raegan Moore at 14.3 and Orsi Szecsi at 8.6 — are seniors. Sophomore guard April Robinson, at 10.8 ppg., returns.

“We know Olivia can score,” Burt said. “Her jumper can be effective and she can create things when she goes to the basket.”

Agunbiade became one of Duquesne’s all-time scoring leaders this season.

“Wumi is a super talented player who is good enough to play in the WNBA,” Bresnahan said. “When you lose a player like that, everyone has to pick it up.

“We have some good younger players on the team, too. I know I was a captain this year, too, but next year I have to become more vocal and be a better leader.”

Failing to reach the NCAA Tournament does not sit well with Bresnahan nor Burt.

“Our standards are high here,” Burt said. “We’re about 20-win seasons and going to the big tournament. We fell short of where we wanted to be.”

Bresnahan agreed.

“The NCAA tournament is the ultimate goal,” she said. “We didn’t get there.”

If they get there next year, Bresnahan will be a big part of the surge.

“Olivia will be a big part of our program next year, one of the biggest ... I can promise you that,” Burt said.