The state’s new chief executive bet Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam that the Maryland women’s basketball team would defeat the Lady Volunteers last night in their NCAA Elite Eight match-up, wagering a bushel of blue crabs (what else?) against ribs from Memphis’ famous Charles Vergos’ Rendezvous (www.hogsfly.com).

A tight, hard-fought game throughout, No. 1 seeded Maryland rung up its 28th straight win with a 58-48 victory—the final score no indication of how close this game was—over No. 2 seeded Tennessee. Brown, a sophomore point guard, scored 10 of her 15 points down the stretch, including a couple of clutch three-pointers and free throws.

Terps center Brionna Jones, from Aberdeen High, contributed 14 points and nine rebounds. Shatori Walker-Kimbrough, named the Spokane Region’s most outstanding player, scored 12, and Lauren Mincy chipped in with 10 points, seven rebounds, and five assists.

Although Maryland made it to the Final Four last year, not much was expected of this unsung band of young women after star Alyssa Thomas, the all-time leader in scoring, rebounding, and double-doubles for both the women’s and men’s programs, graduated and left for the WNBA.

Did we mention that these women went undefeated in their first Big Ten season?

“You know, it’s still pretty surreal, just the fact that we’re going to back-to-back Final Fours,” Maryland coach Brenda Frese told reporters afterward. “Couldn’t be more proud of this team when you talk about going into this year and the expectations. They set the bar really high. Just really excited about going to Tampa.”

Next up: top-ranked and two-time defending champion Connecticut, this Sunday at 9 p.m., which we’re not going to miss.

The Terps will be underdogs this weekend, but let’s not forget Frese and Maryland have been down this road before, winning a national title in 2006.

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