As the clock inched closer to zero in the Terrapins women’s basketball team’s shocking 74-65 season-ending NCAA Tournament loss to Washington in the Round of 32, chants of “Let’s go Maryland” rained down onto the court.

The mantra has been screamed dozens of times this season, an urgent rallying cry for the hometown heroes. But Monday night, with the possibility of a monumental upset on the horizon, it took on a tone of desperation.

Minutes later, long after the Terps had silently slogged back to the locker room, Washington’s cheerleaders and band performed in front of an empty Xfinity Center. They jumped on one another’s shoulders. They bounced up and down. They danced; they screamed; they rejoiced.

For the Terps, the Round of 32 contest will go down as a significant disappointment. But for the Huskies, it will go down as so much more.

“We’ve kind of been the odd man out all year long,” said guard Kelsey Plum, who finished with 32 points, seven assists and six rebounds. “We lost our all-time leading scorer, leading rebounder, before the season started. People kind of said, ‘Eh, Washington. Not their year.”

Huskies coach Mike Neighbors heaped praise on Plum, who he said played an instrumental role in helping his team reach its first Sweet Sixteen since 2001.

“She decided to come to Washington when we weren’t making NCAA Tournaments,” Neighbors said. “She was one of the first McDonald’s All-Americans in the country to chose a place that didn’t have an NCAA Tournament pedigree. She wanted to some place and be part of something really special in building that.”

In 2013, Plum was dealt a surprise when former coach Kevin McGuff, who recruited her, left for Ohio State. Neighbors said Plum got her letter of intent back and considered going elsewhere.

But she decided to stay true to her initial commitment.

“From day one, she’s been in mode to help us get to the Sweet 16,” Neighbors said.

With less than 90 seconds remaining Monday and the Huskies clinging to a five-point lead, Plum found forward Talia Walton open from long range. Walton canned it, sealing the win.

Plum high-stepped back onto defense. After the game, she was asked to describe how she felt in the moment.

“All the doubters that have told our team that we’re good enough. All the people that have told me Washington was the wrong school or Neighbors was the wrong coach, Plum said. “I just think that moment, God said ‘Nope, you’re right where you are. You’re right where you’re supposed to be.’ And I thought was just icing on the cake.”

Walton, who was sitting to Plum’s left in the postgame press conference, agreed.

“Mhhm,” she said.

And with that, Plum, Walton and center Chantel Osahor grabbed their nameplates and left the room. It was time to celebrate.