Cedar Rapids native punches NCAA tournament ticket

Cedar Rapids Washington grad Katie Abrahamson-Henderson will coach in the NCAA women's basketball tournament.

Abrahamson-Henderson's Albany team defeated Maine in the America East women's championship final Friday, 59-58, in Albany, N.Y.

The top-seeded Great Danes led, 59-55, when Black Bear guard Sigi Koizar made a 3-pointer with 56 seconds left. Maine had two chances to win, but Albany held on defensively.

Albany has won the America East Tournament each of the past five seasons, all under Abrahamson-Henderson, who played in two NCAA tournaments at Iowa (1989, 1990) after transferring from Georgia.

The Great Danes earned the league's automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament for the fifth straight year.

That once again makes two Washington grads on the sidelines in the big dance. Brenda Frese's Maryland Terrapins are 30-3 and won the Big Ten tournament for the second straight year.