CINCINNATI --- The Xavier women’s basketball team broke every school attendance record in the 2000-01 season, and the team’s rise in popularity also carried over to the national scene.

Xavier’s average home attendance this past season was 2,673, placing XU 36th among NCAA Division I schools. That average per game attendance was up 1,827 from the previous year, a 316 percent increase. That jump is the third largest in the NCAA from 1999-00 to 2000-01.

Xavier’s season total of 40,098 is nearly three times the previous record of 11,003 that was set in 1999-00. The old mark was eclipsed on Jan. 14 of this past season.

"The kind of crowds we got were great. It created a really exciting atmosphere for women’s basketball," said Xavier head coach Melanie Balcomb. "It’s important for us to see these numbers come up like they have. Having that kind of growth is a major goal for us in this coming year as well."

Xavier got the 2000-01 season off to a great start by setting a single-game record with 2,712 fans for the opening game at the Cintas Center against Vanderbilt on Nov. 19. That record was shattered on the final day of the season when 4,879 people came through the turnstiles for "Senior Night" against Dayton on Feb. 18.

In March, the Musketeers hosted NCAA Tournament First and Second Round games, drawing 6,802 and 6,548 respectively. Xavier was eighth among the 16 First and Second Round sites with a two-day attendance total of 13,350.

The Musketeers responded to the record audience by going 15-0 in the inaugural season in the Cintas Center.

Xavier’s growth is part of a record for women’s basketball. Division I games drew a record total of 6,519,667 fans across the nation. For the complete NCAA Attendance Report, go to www.ncaa.org.

For 2001-02 season ticket information, call the Xavier ticket office at 513-745-3411.