NCAA women's basketball teams raced to another banner year in attendance for 2002-03.

The 1,009 NCAA women's teams in three divisions surpassed the 10-million mark for the first time as Division I teams led the 19th consecutive year of growth for women's basketball attendance.

A total of 10,163,629 spectators attended NCAA women's games in 2002-03, a jump of 630,848 from 2001-02. The 322 Division I teams fueled the boost by eclipsing the seven million mark for the first time, totaling 7,351,634 spectators, up 413,821 from 2001-02.

The 1,619 average per game for Division I schools includes both the national championship tournament and other neutral-site games.

Divisions II and III also added to the record cumulative totals. Division II totaled 1,645,701 fans, up nearly 100,000 from last year, while Division III was ahead nearly 75,000 with a total of 1,000,471 (also the first time over the one-million mark).

The 2003 Division I Women's Basketball Championship also posted records in both total attendance (334,587) and average per session (7,966).

For 2002-03, the 1,009 NCAA teams in all divisions averaged 774 spectators per game, while the 322 Division I institutions totaled a record 6,895,533 in home attendance and set a per-game record of 1,572.

A record 133 Division I teams averaged more than 1,000 spectators per game and another 88 teams topped the 500-per-game mark.

NCAA women's attendance was compiled for the first time in 1982 and overall attendance in the three divisions has increased every year since 1984. Net home attendance also includes any doubleheader games with the men's teams as long as attendance is counted by halftime of the women's game.

Big 12 tops among conferences

For the fourth consecutive year, the Big 12 Conference captured the top spot in conference attendance by totaling 970,764 fans. The league's 5,030 per-game average also led the nation. It is only the third time in history a league has passed the 5,000 mark (the Big 12 also did it with 5,030 in 2001 and a record 5,331 last year).

The Big Ten Conference was second in total attendance with a league-record 716,019 fans, and the Southeastern Conference was third with a league-record 670,023 total.

For Division I league totals, conference tournament neutral-site attendance is added to conference home attendance.

Fourteen Division I conferences posted records in total attendance in 2003 and 11 leagues set per-game records. Of the 31 Division I conferences, eight averaged more than 2,000 spectators per game and another six were above the 1,000 mark.

Huskies best in show

Division I national champion Connecticut broke Tennessee's six-year stranglehold on attendance by winning its second title and first since 1995-96. The Huskies also beat Tennessee, 73-68, in the national championship game.

Tennessee had reeled off six straight attendance titles since 1997, but Connecticut averaged 12,859 fans per game to the Lady Volunteers' 12,585 this season. Texas Tech finished third at 12,259, followed by New Mexico at 11,896 and Iowa State at 9,632. New Mexico actually had the most overall spectators with 226,024, followed by Tennessee (201,353) and Connecticut (192,888).

In Division II, North Dakota State recaptured the attendance crown after a two-year hiatus. North Dakota State averaged 2,805 fans per game, earning the school its 10th attendance title. The Bison had finished behind North Dakota the last two seasons.

South Dakota State was second, averaging 2,693, while North Dakota finished third at 2,566. Angelo State was fourth with a 2,100 average, followed by Washburn at 1,987.

In Division III, Wisconsin-Eau Claire reclaimed the top spot over Hardin-Simmons by averaging 1,294 per game. Hardin-Simmons, last year's leader, was second at 1,153. The rest of the top five were Stillman (890), Wisconsin-Stout (881) and Christopher Newport (783).

In Division II conferences, the North Central Conference easily took its 13th national attendance crown averaging 1,750 fans per game. The Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association was second for the second straight year at 1,240. The Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference was third (633), followed by the Lone Star Conference (606).

In Division III, the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference captured its first attendance title by averaging 540 fans per game. The Ohio Athletic Conference was second at 368, followed by the American Southwest Conference (356).