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But when the one senior in the Trojans' starting lineup picked up her fourth foul with 4 minutes, 2 seconds to play in the third quarter and had to head for the bench, those advantages became very important in helping the favored Wildcats rally to a 53-40 victory and their fourth state title.

"It was just mental breakdowns," said Gaithersburg coach Adrian McDaniel. "When you have mental breakdowns and you have a good team like that, a senior team, that can happen."

Gaithersburg (23-5) held a 25-16 lead at the University of Maryland-Baltimore County's RAC Arena when senior center Aisha Ahmad committed the fateful foul. It was Ahmad's job to defend Arundel's 6-foot-4 senior center Sheronne Vails, the Wildcats' leading scorer (18.2 points per game) and rebounder (12.4).

"She did a great job; she was putting a body on the big girl, and [Vails] was getting frustrated," McDaniel said. "When she fouled out, we didn't rotate like we should, we didn't keep a body on her; she was getting rebounds and put backs."

Vails had only four points in the first half and six when Ahmad went to the bench. She finished with the game 16 points and 18 rebounds.

Arundel outscored the Trojans 11-5 in the rest of the third quarter to get back into the game, trailing only 30-27 entering the final quarter. The rally continued in a 26-10 fourth quarter, six of those points coming on free throws in the final minute when Gaithersburg was fouling to stop the clock.

Arundel has advanced to the state semifinals 10 times, including last year. All five of its starters were seniors, and the Wildcats have three players who stand 6-foot or taller.

"What can I say about these guys, all year long they have always fought adversity, getting better, not giving up," Arundel coach Lee Rogers said. "It looked bleak, or whatever you want to say, before halftime. I'm so proud of them."

Contrast that with Gaithersburg, which had no players remaining from its last trip to a state final, in 2006. The Trojans had just one senior starter and one player over 6-foot; both the 6-1 Ahmad.

None of that mattered. Junior Octavia Scott scored four points in the first quarter to help the Trojans take a 9-6 lead into the second period.

Junior guard Sarah Seipp took over from there, scoring eight points in the second quarter on two 3-pointers and a pair of free throws to help extend the lead to 23-14 at halftime.

"Our offense was to just get by their guards, which we did, and when the other people stepped up, to dish to the post," said junior point guard Kara Marshall, who had eight points and two assists. "Our defense lost it."

Seipp finished with 14 points and sophomore Colleen Marshall added 14 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Trojans. Joining Vails at 16 points for Arundel was senior point guard Talen Watson.

"It was an excellent year," McDaniel said. "Nobody expected us to get this far. Everbody thought Paint Branch was going to be here. When we knocked off Paint Branch, everybody thought Wise was going to be here. We beat Wise, and we just fell short today. I'm proud of these ladies, I wouldn't ask for nothing else."