The Terrapins were considered a long shot. Ranked 14th in both the preseason polls, Maryland rose to become the No. 1 team in the nation under fourth-year head coach Brenda Frese, capturing the program's first NCAA title.
Before they could punch their ticket to their first Final Four since 1989, the Terrapins were struck with a stomach virus which filtered through most of the players, staff, band members and fans. A determined Terrapin squad forced their fifth overtime game of the year after Utah missed a key free throw in the final seconds. Maryland went on to win, 75-65 on March 27. In Boston at the Final Four, Maryland faced a familiar foe - the top overall No. 1 seed North Carolina and the favorite to win the championship. The Terps had other plans, pulling off the upset, once again, winning 81-70, on April 2.
In the finals, Maryland trailed by 13 points with less than 15 minutes remaining. Toliver hit one of the biggest shots in tournament history with seconds remaining in regulation, a three-pointer over Duke’s center, to force the overtime. The Terrapins’ comeback tied the second-largest in NCAA history. The Terps, believing that "Overtime is Our Time," did not have a doubt in the eventual outcome, as they hoisted the trophy on April 4.
