Maine has been blessed with an abundance of great women’s basketball this year. Three teams from the state have made it to the Sweet 16 in the NCAA’s Division III tournament.

Two powerhouse teams, Bates College and the University of Southern Maine, will face off at 8 p.m. tonight at Hill Gymnasium in Gorham. A third, Bowdoin, will play in Scranton, Pa., in the other sectional semifinal. Winners play again Saturday to determine the Final Four.

Bowdoin (25-2) is ranked No. 2. Bates (25-2) is No. 3, and USM (28-2) is No. 4. It’s possible that we could witness an all-Maine national title game.

Bowdoin has been dominant all year and handed Bates both of its losses. But the Polar Bears got a taste of their own medicine Feb. 1 when Bates delivered one of the team’s two defeats.

Both Bates and Bowdoin were able to overcome USM in back-to-back games during the regular season, but the Huskies are riding high after a tough fight with Ithaca College on March 5.

Megan Myles, an Edward Little alumna, took over the game, leading the team with 25 points, 9 rebounds and five steals in the 55-52 win.

Maine has an impressive women’s basketball tradition. It’s carried on this year by high school teams like Dirigo, which won the Class C state championship, and our three representatives in the Division III NCAA tournament.

To be so close to greatness is a pleasure.