The SPU women's basketball team stands 25-0 in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), one of only three undefeated Division II women's teams in the nation. The Falcons hold the No. 1 seed in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) with a record of 16-0. On Saturday, they decisively defeated Northwest Nazarene University (NNU), 14-7 in the NCAA, by 17 points (75-58). Fans filled a mere 20.3 percent of Royal Brougham Pavilion that night.

As postseason draws near and the opportunity for an untarnished season presents itself, the SPU community seems unresponsive and disinterested. The SPU community, which has shown its love for its athletics teams in the past, needs to step up and support the talent and effort of the women's team.

Only 540 fans attended Saturday's game. In comparison, the men's basketball team (16-6) drew a crowd of about 1,000 in their game against the University of Alaska, Anchorage later that night.

According to WNBA.com, 60 million viewers worldwide watched Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) games in 2001. In 2005, 115 million viewers worldwide watched the San Antonio Spurs beat the Detroit Pistons in Game 2 of the NBA finals (http://nba.com).

Historically, men's sports have traditionally commandeered the attention of viewers worldwide, as well as among students at SPU, but historical prejudices are not justification for perpetuating a discrepancy in our sports viewership. We need to acknowledge our women's athletic prowess and exhibit some semblance of enthusiasm and appreciation through our attendance.

The women's team has played games with record-setting differences (86-44 against Western Washington University on Feb. 16) and nail-biting closers (68-67 against Northwest Nazarene University on Feb. 2). The excitement factor is no valid justification either.

Two more home games remain in the regular season: Thursday's game against Western Oregon and Saturday's game against Saint Martin's. Go. Cheer. Our women are well on their way to national success and deserve our full and zealous support.