BOSTON – Overtime belongs to Maryland. So does the NCAA championship.

Freshman Kristi Toliver hit a 3-pointer at the end of regulation to cap a 13-point comeback, then made two free throws with 35 seconds left in overtime Tuesday night to give the Terrapins their first NCAA women’s basketball title with a 78-75 victory over Duke.

Maryland (34-4) is 6-0 in overtime games this season – the first five on the road and the last in the championship to complete the second-largest comeback in a women’s final. It was the first time the title was determined in overtime since Tennessee beat Virginia in 1991.

The Maryland players stormed the court twice – once after Toliver’s basket forced overtime and again when Blue Devils guard Jessica Foley’s desperation, well-covered 3-point attempt nicked the front of the rim at the overtime buzzer.

Piling up on the court, hugging and bumping chests, the Terrapins reveled in the youth that had been the biggest doubt surrounding them coming into the tournament.

“Age is just a number,” Maryland coach Brenda Frese said. “When you got kids that believe and they believe in each other and they got that kind of confidence, you can accomplish anything as a team.”

Foley made two free throws with 18 seconds left in regulation to give Duke a 70-67 lead, then Frese called timeout to set up a play.

Toliver, who had 12 turnovers in the semifinal victory over North Carolina, brought the ball down and veered over to the right before putting through the 3 with 6.1 seconds left and Duke’s Alison Bales in her face.

“And I even felt her fingertips as I was holding my follow through,” Toliver said. “So, she did a great job contesting. I just had a lot of confidence. And I knew I wanted to take the big shot so I just took it.”

Duke (31-4) opted not to call a timeout; Lindsey Harding brought the ball down the court and put up a desperation leaner from the right baseline that went off the rim.

After that, the usually frenetic Frese let her players take charge.

“I didn’t have to say a word,” Frese said.

“They just know that overtime is their time.”

Duke took a 75-74 lead before Toliver sank two free throws to put Maryland ahead for good. Marissa Coleman, who bounced back from Frese’s furious first-half tongue-lashing to finish with 10 points and 14 rebounds, hit the last two free throws for Maryland with 13.4 seconds left before Foley’s 3 barely hit iron.

Toliver had 16 points, four assists and just three turnovers in the title game.

Final Four Most Outstanding Player Laura Harper and Shay Doron also scored 16 for the Terrapins, who were charter members of the Final Four 25 years ago but struggled before Frese took over the program in 2002.

All game long, Frese was walking the sideline and clapping, screaming out plays and in one case walking onto the court to rip into Coleman for the first 30 seconds of a two-minute timeout.

Coleman got the message.

After scoring just two points in the first half, the 6-foot-1 freshman battled against the 6-foot-7 Bales to keep Duke from using its inside edge to counter Maryland’s speed. And that’s when Toliver, who had to give up the ball-handling against the Tar Heels, took charge.

Duke coach Gail Goestenkors wasn’t surprised to see a pair of freshmen maintain their poise.

“No, I’ve seen it too many times,” she said. “Every time they go to overtime, they’ve won.”

The loss will sting back on the Durham, N.C., campus, which is already roiling in the aftermath of a lacrosse party that led to allegations of rape and racism.

Coach G failed in her fourth trip to the Final Four to add a banner at Cameron Indoor Stadium along the three won by her better-known male counterpart, Mike Krzyzewski.

“I just feel utter disappointment for my players and my seniors,” she said.

“It’s killing me – not for me, but for my players.”