FLORENCE, Ala.
-- Although the University of North Alabama
women's basketball season ended in the Gulf
South Conference Tournament, the career
numbers put up by Lion senior Amber
Rutherford will live on in the NCAA record
books.
Rutherford, a four-year starter at UNA and
Hatton, Ala., native, closed her career with
the highest free throw percentage in the
history of NCAA women's basketball.
In four seasons with the Lions, Rutherford
made an astounding 526 of 570 free throw
attempts for a 92.38 career percentage. That
figure shatters the UNA (82.9) and Gulf
South Conference records (86.5), as well as
the previous bests in Division I, II and III
history.
The Division II record of 88.5 was
previously set by Darlene Hildebrand of
Philadelphia (547-618) from 1992-95. Angel
Hill of Anderson (Ind.) holds the Division
III record at 89.5 (323-361), set from
2001-04. The previous NCAA All Divisions
mark of 91.6 was set by Shanna Zolman of
Tennessee (306-334) from 2003-06.
Rutherford led Division II in free throw
percentage as both a sophomore (93.7) and
junior (93.6) and earlier this season also
broke the Division II record for consecutive
free throws made with 54.
Rutherford finished second in UNA history in
both career scoring (1,588 points) and
career rebounds (740)
AMBER RUTHERFORD RECORDS SET IN 2008-09
● NCAA DIVISION II RECORD - Consecutive Free
Throws made in a Season: 54 by Amber
Rutherford. Broke the mark of 53 by Denise
Gallo of Pittsburgh- Johnston in 1995-96.
● NCAA DIVISION II RECORD - Best Career Free
Throw Percentage: 92.28 by Amber Rutherford
of North Alabama. Broke the mark of 88.5 by
Darlene Hildebrand of Philadelphia
(547-618), 1992-95 ● NCAA ALL DIVISIONS
RECORD - Best Career Free Throw Percentage:
92.28 by Amber Rutherford of North Alabama.
Broke the mark of 91.6 by Shanna Zolman of
Tennessee (306-334), 2003-06 ● GSC RECORD -
Consecutive Free Throws made in a Season: 54
by Amber Rutherford. Broke the mark of 34 by
Becky Mauck of North Alabama in 1997-98.
● GSC RECORD - Best Career Free Throw
Percentage: 92.28 by Amber Rutherford of
North Alabama. Broke the mark of 86.5 by Jo
Lynn Davis of Delta State (140- 166),
1986-89 ● UNA RECORD - Consecutive Free
Throws made in a Season: 54 by Amber
Rutherford. Broke the mark of 34 by Becky
Mauck of North Alabama in 1997-98.
● UNA RECORD - Best Career Free Throw
Percentage: 92.28 by Amber Rutherford of
North Alabama. Broke the mark of 82.9 by
Taryn Causey (238-287), 2001-02
AMBER RUTHERFORD FREE THROW HISTORY AT UNA
2005-06 128-144 88.9
2006-07 134-143 93.7
2007-08 132-141 93.6
2008-09 132-142 92.9
Career 526-570 92.28
