For eight straight seasons the ISU women’s basketball team has finished in the top 10 for average attendance.

Iowa State ranked seventh nationally with an average of 8,906 fans per game, during a season that saw the Cyclones reach the Big 12 Championship and the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

“To again finish in the top 10 nationally in attendance shows that our fans appreciate the efforts of our players and staff,” coach Bill Fennelly said in a press release. “They have created one of the most special environments in the country at Hilton Coliseum. They make it a fun place to play and watch college basketball.”

The Cyclones also drew a total of 240,296 fans for all games (home, away, neutral site), which was good for fifth in the nation.

The team also displayed the ability to increase its fan base, raising its home attendance from an average of 7,667 fans per game in 2005-06 to 8,906 in 2006-07. The increase of 1,239 fans per game was good for the ninth largest increase in attendance.

The Big 12 led all conferences in attendance for the eighth consecutive year, with an NCAA record of 1,023,576 fans and an average of 5,170 per game.

“It is amazing that for the eighth straight year the Big 12 led all conferences in attendance,” Fennelly said. “In a relatively short time the Big 12 has really established itself as a premier conference and the fans have certainly shown their support. Our student-athletes play in a great environment every night.”

Three teams from the Big 12, including Iowa State, were featured in the top 10 in average attendance, with Texas Tech ranked third (10,668) and Oklahoma fourth (10,437).

Tennessee led all teams, with an average attendance of 14,678 fans per game.