April 11, 2008

Indianapolis, IN --- It pays to answer the phone late on Friday afternoons sometimes. The Idaho State University athletic department and the women's basketball team were officially informed by the NCAA statistics staff that the .832 free throw percentage posted by the women's team not only led women's Division I, but it turns out it is the NCAA's all-time record, regardless of Division, and regardless of gender.

The Bengals, who qualified for the postseason for the third-time in three years, were 540-for-649 from the free throw line, and they easily topped second place Drexel, who shot .813 for the season. The previous best Division I free throw percentage was .815, put up by Saint Joseph's in the 2000-01 season. Division III's Rose-Hulman's .826 percentage two seasons ago was the previous best women's collegiate team mark.

The best men's mark is an .822 percentage by Harvard in the 1983-84 season, and the overall best percentage by any men's team is an .825 mark by Gannon in the 1997-98 season.

Jon Newlee knew his team led the nation. He didn't know it was a national record. "Wow, that is really cool," said Newlee from his office upon learning the news. "I knew it was a good year, but wow. That's pretty incredible to have witness the greatest team free throw shooting ever."

The Bengals will receive a commemorative plaque from the NCAA for their national statistical championship, and they nearly got two others, as Natalie Doma finished second in the nation in both scoring and rebounding. She will be attending the WNBA's Seattle Storm's preseason camp starting on the 20th of this month.