No. 4-seed Maryland women’s basketball triumphed in a double-overtime instant classic over No. 5-seed Alabama Monday, qualifying for head coach Brenda Frese’s 12th Sweet 16 appearance.

Here are three takeaways from the thriller.

The madness of March

The Terps are the only team to move on after Monday night’s wild ride, but the biggest winner may have been the fans, who got treated to a great game.

“It was fun, it was really fun,” Sarah Te-Biasu said. “I know it was a tight game and everything, but we have fun.”

The game had just about every trademark of a classic: a massive comeback, late game dramatics, overtime and legendary performances.

“I think we put on a show for women’s basketball tonight,” Alabama star Sarah Ashlee Barker said after the loss.

The first two-and-a-half quarters were competitive and entertaining, but the wild ride really kicked off after Aaliyah Nye stepped into a deep three from the wing that pushed Alabama’s lead to 17 points with 3:25 left in the third quarter.

The Terps looked to be on the verge of bowing out with Shyanne Sellers sitting on the bench with four fouls.

“It was a specific timeout,” Sellers said. “We were just talking about ‘score, stop, score, stop, score, get it within 10’, and that’s exactly what we did.”

And so, they began to slowly chip away at the Tide’s lead. Maryland tied the game with a minute left, then Barker and Te-Biasu traded clutch threes.

Alabama had an opportunity at a buzzer-beater, but Maryland buckled down defensively, sending the game to overtime.

In overtime, Maryland rode the momentum of its comeback, maintaining a slight advantage. Saylor Poffenbarger went to the free-throw line with eight seconds left and had the opportunity to ice the game, but she only made one.

Then, on the other end, Barker heaved a prayer to tie the game. The shot wasn’t close, but Poffenbarger extended her arm too far on the close-out, catching Barker on the face and sending her to the line. She delivered, sinking all three free throws.

In double-overtime, thanks to clutch free-throw shooting and massive threes from Te-Biasu, the Terps were once again in control and just needed one stop.

They got it, as Christina Dalce nicely contested a corner three that could have tied the game.

All the while, Barker notched 45 points, tied for fourth-most in women’s NCAA Tournament history.

“I’m going to remember this one for a really long time, with this group and everything that they’ve had to get through this season,” Frese said.

Te-Biasu cemented herself

If Te-Biasu wasn’t already a Maryland women’s basketball legend before Monday night, she’s one now.

Ever since Bri McDaniel went down with a season-ending ACL tear, the Terps have called on Te-Biasu to replace a lot of her production. She has answered the bell.

Recently, the 5-foot-5 graduate guard has been more than exceptional. She’s shot over 70% from deep in Maryland’s last five games, and so many of those have come when the Terps have needed them most.

“I have a lot of faith. Before games I always pray a lot,” Te-Biasu said of her recent form. “My teammates, they always tell me to keep shooting, especially Shy [Sellers].”

She hit four massive threes. The first came at the end of the third quarter, when she nailed one to bring the Terps back to within single digits as they headed to the fourth frame.

In the second overtime, Te-Biasu hit two more threes to help guarantee a Maryland victory. She wasn’t only making catch-and-shoot threes, either. Many, such as her shot late in the third quarter, were off-the-dribble creations.

She ran the show for Maryland offensively, dishing out six assists and notching three steals, including the game-sealing one with a second left in double overtime.

Te-Biasu played 50 minutes. She only came out of the game for singular defensive possessions — Maryland needed every second she gave it. Her teammates thanked her by carrying her off the court postgame.

“They just did it,” Te Biasu said. “I don’t know why they do that.”

Role players delivered

As good as the Terps’ stars were — Sellers, Smikle and Te-Biasu combined for 78 points — their role players were instrumental to the victory.

Allie Kubek may not fall under the category of a role player, but she delivered once again on the big stage, notching 19 points, 12 rebounds, five assists and zero turnovers.

Mir McLean came off the bench and did all the little things. She was assigned to slowing down the red-hot Barker, and did a good job on her individually. The Tide were forced to use ball screens and dribble handoffs to get their star some space.

McLean also corralled 10 rebounds, many of which came when Maryland needed them most. With the Terps down four with 90 seconds left, Sellers put up a three that fell short, but McLean was there to collect the miss and put it right back in off the backboard.

“That’s just who Mir is, she is going to do the little things,” Sellers said. “She’s a team player and I love her every second of it, because she makes us better and it’s huge for us.”

McLean wasn’t the only one to step up off the bench. At one point, with both Smikle and Sellers having to sit with four fouls, Frese called on Amari DeBerry in what seemed like a desperate attempt to find a spark.

DeBerry, who has played few meaningful minutes this season, helped kick-start Maryland’s comeback. She came up with a clutch block before knocking down an elbow jumper.

“I thought [Amari] did some great things,” Frese said. “I thought she was really ready and impacted us in a great way.”