Not unlike the recent boom in technology stocks, NCAA women's college basketball attendance continued its remarkable growth by posting a 16th consecutive record high in 1999-00.

National women's attendance rose by nearly 700,000 as 8,697,712 spectators attended games during the 1999-00 season. Of that figure, 6,356,729 attended Division I games, the first time that total has exceeded six million.

The average of 1,491 spectators per game, including the tournament and neutral-site games in Division I, also was a record.

For all three divisions, a total of 16 new NCAA schools helped increase attendance past the eight million mark for the second straight year. The first year for NCAA attendance tabulation was 1982 and overall attendance in the three divisions has increased every year since 1984.

Overall, the 956 teams in all divisions averaged 744 fans per outing, another record, while total attendance in 1999-00 was up 687,485 over last season. The 315 Division I teams averaged a record 1,446 per game in home attendance, while total attendance was up 529,365 from last year.

The Big 12 Conference, in just its fourth year of competition, took over the national conference attendance leadership from the Big Ten Conference, which had posted seven straight attendance crowns.

The Big 12, riding the coattails of No. 2-ranked Texas Tech and No. 4 Iowa State, set national records in both total attendance at 802,419 and average per game at 4,720. The Big Ten was second with a league record in total attendance at 675,200 and 4,328 in average per game.

The Southeastern Conference was third in the league rankings, averaging 3,330 per outing and posting a 566,065 total, while the Pacific-10 Conference was fourth with league records in both average (2,393) and total (325,413).

Nineteen Division I leagues posted record total attendance figures in 1999-00 and 11 leagues set per-game average records. Of the 31 Division I conferences, eight averaged more than 2,000 spectators per game and six others averaged more than 1,000 per game.

Tennessee again leads Division I

For the fourth straight year, Tennessee led the nation in home attendance. The Lady Volunteers totaled 230,116 fans and averaged 15,341 spectators in Thompson-Boling Arena in 15 home games.

Texas Tech rose to second place, averaging 12,741 per game and attracting 203,852 fans. Connecticut, this year's national champion, finished third in attendance, averaging 11,632, slightly more than Big 12 power Iowa State at 11,184.

Purdue rounded out the top five attendance teams averaging 9,428.

Familiar faces in Divisions II and III

North Dakota State continued its dominance of Division II attendance, winning its ninth consecutive title by averaging 2,563 per game, edging North Central Athletic Conference and state rival North Dakota at 2,546. Emporia State was third at 2,281, while South Dakota was fourth at 2,007 and South Dakota State was fifth at 1,884.

Wisconsin-Eau Claire captured its second straight Division III attendance crown, averaging 1,196 to outdistance both McMurry and Washington (Missouri), which tied for second place at 1,040 per game. Scranton was fourth at 854 and Maryville (Tennessee) was fifth at 593.

Among Division II leagues, the North Central Conference, bolstered by having four of the top five teams, cruised to its 10th consecutive attendance title. The North Central averaged 1,524 to lead the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association's 1,055. The others in order were the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference at 637, the Lone Star Conference at 550 and the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association at 533.

In Division III conferences, the University Athletic Association was on top, averaging 389 followed by the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (379) and the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (329).