EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Women’s Basketball sophomore guard Vanessa Shafford (Linton, Indiana) picked up her fifth double-double of the season on Thursday night, but the Screaming Eagles could not overcome an early deficit to Tennessee Tech University, as USI fell in the home finale, 78-57.
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Shafford led USI with 21 points and 11 rebounds to post her fifth double-double this season. Thursday also marked the fourth time this season that Shafford reached the 20-point plateau in a game.
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A slow start hurt USI early, as Tennessee Tech jumped out to an 8-0 lead. The Golden Eagles’ lead climbed to 20-2 in the first quarter. The Screaming Eagles’ combination of senior forward Hannah Haithcock (Washington Courthouse, Ohio) and sophomore guard Takiya Howard (Chicago, Illinois) combined for six USI points in the last couple of minutes of the first quarter. Tennessee Tech led 23-8 after the opening 10 minutes.
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In the early minutes of the second quarter, Tennessee Tech knocked down a pair of three-pointers. Meanwhile, USI senior forward Tara Robbe (Wildwood, Missouri) scored twice on a couple of layups in the middle minutes of the second. After her second layup, Haithcock found room at the basket for another score for USI, making the score 30-14 Tennessee Tech at the halfway point of the second period. A few minutes later, Southern Indiana got back on the scoreboard off the first tally of the game for Shafford. Late first-half scoring for both sides led to a 40-20 halftime score in favor of the Golden Eagles.
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At the start of the second half, Tennessee Tech continued its hot shooting, including from beyond the arc. In the middle of the third quarter, Shafford found a little more breathing room amid the Golden Eagles’ tight defense. The sophomore canned a three-pointer with 4:38 left in the third, as USI trailed 55-29. With two minutes left in the third, Haithcock went to work in the post for a basket. Inside the last 20 seconds of the third period, Shafford cashed in on a three-point play. The score was 63-37 Tennessee Tech heading to the fourth quarter.
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The Screaming Eagles started the fourth quarter with some rhythm. Shafford and fellow sophomore guard Aubrey Burgess (Linton, Indiana) each buried a triple in the first two minutes of the fourth. Seconds later, Robbe scored on a transition layup, trimming the score down to 65-45 with 7:15 remaining. Shafford drained another two triples during the fourth quarter, but Southern Indiana could not muster a big enough run at Tennessee Tech in the end.
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In her double-double effort, Shafford was 8-15 from the field and 4-7 from three. Haithcock also reached double figures, scoring 10 points on 3-8 shooting and 4-6 at the line with five rebounds in the contest. Southern Indiana went 21-50 for 42 percent overall and 10-17 for 58.8 percent at the stripe with five three-pointers. USI outrebounded Tennessee Tech 35-28.
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Tennessee Tech senior guard Maaliya Owens, who scored 29 points in the first meeting between the two schools in early February, recorded 28 points on Thursday night. Owens was 10-18 overall and 6-12 from three. Junior guard Peyton Carter registered 14 points for the Golden Eagles. Tennessee Tech shot 27-57 for 47.4 percent from the floor, 11-25 for 44 percent from beyond the arc, and 13-17 for 76.5 percent at the free-throw line.
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With Thursday’s results, USI’s record moved to 11-17 overall and 5-12 in the Ohio Valley Conference, which puts USI in ninth place in the standings. Tennessee Tech, who is locked in third place, improved its record to 18-9 this season and 12-5 in the OVC.
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The Screaming Eagles will conclude the 2022-23 regular season Saturday at Tennessee State University at 1 p.m. The game can be seen live on ESPN3 and heard on 95.7 FM The Spin (http://957thespin.com).
Shafford posts fifth double-double, USI falls to Tennessee Tech
Fifth Third Bank Provides Additional Investment to UE’s Embrace for Expanded Services Outside of The Jacobsville Advantage
EVANSVILLE, IND. (02/23/2023) Embrace, the University of Evansville (UE) student-run marketing and communications agency, and Fifth Third Bank have announced the renewal of a $15,000 grant that will expand its reach to include funding for nonprofits outside the Jacobsville community.
In October 2021, The Jacobsville Advantage was initially launched to help fuel growth and development for businesses in their community. At the time, Fifth Third Bank provided an initial $25,000 grant to kickstart the endeavor, and they have recently invested an additional $15,000 to support ongoing services to help Jacobsville businesses meet their marketing needs at an affordable price.
To celebrate the grant renewal, Embrace and Fifth Third Bank is hosting a Marketing Panel and Creative Solutions event on February 25 at the Fifth Third Center. The event will provide an opportunity for additional local businesses to find affordable solutions to their marketing needs.
The event is open to any non-profit or for-profit business. Embrace will hold one-on-one meetings with their marketing and media experts to specifically address business needs and answer any questions. In addition, Embrace will offer website and social media set-up at the event.
Under the grant, Embrace completed projects for five Jacobsville businesses within the last year. Project highlights include designing a flyer for Gayla Cake and a map brochure for the Jacobsville Community Cooperative; launching a website for The Jacobsville Fine Art Association and Foster Care in the US; and creating a video advertisement for Zesto.
Irais Ibarra, Chief Executive Officer of Embrace, says the goal is to expand and cultivate community relationships by investing in small businesses and non-profits.
“What we really want as an agency is to grow alongside our clients by developing our own capabilities, and we believe this opportunity will provide the first steps in helping these organizations embrace their potential,” said Ibarra.
“Fifth Third Bank has been a proud sponsor of the Jacobsville Advantage project and we are excited to see Embrace take it to the next level by expanding the project to include non-profits throughout our region. This key change in Embrace’s strategy will enable even more well deserving organizations take advantage of the great services Embrace provides to our community.” said Neely Pierce, Evansville City President, S.V.P.
USI gets a split with WIU Saturday
MILLINGTON, Tenn. – University of Southern Indiana Baseball battled back in game two to earn a doubleheader split with Western Illinois University Saturday afternoon at USA Stadium in Millington, Tennessee. USI stumbled in game one, 5-2, before shutting out WIU, 6-0, in the nightcap.
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The Screaming Eagles watch their record go to 2-1, while Western Illinois goes to 1-2.
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Game 1:
USI had a pair of one-run leads early but lost for the first time in 2023, 5-2, to open the doubleheader. USI took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second on a solo blast by junior first baseman Tucker Ebest (Austin, Texas), his first of the season.
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After WIU tied the game in the bottom of the second with a home run of its own, the Eagles regained the lead, 2-1, in the top of the third when junior catcher Parker Stroh (Grand Forks, North Dakota) singled in senior second baseman Lucas McNew (Floyds Knobs, Indiana). The lead was short lived as the Leathernecks posted two in the bottom of the third to take lead, 3-2, and finished the scoring with two more in the fifth for the 5-2 final.
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USI junior right-hander Trent Robinson (Louisville, Kentucky) took the loss for the Eagles. Robinson (0-1) allowed three runs on six hits, while striking out two in three innings of work.
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Game 2:
USI sophomore right-hander Tyler Hutson (Villa Hills, Kentucky) was dominating for five innings and senior centerfielder Ren Tachioka (Japan) drove in two runs as the Eagles shutout the Leathernecks, 6-0.
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Hutson (1-0) threw five scoreless innings, allowing three hits and three walks, while striking out four for his first victory of the season.
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At the plate, USI scored twice in the first and second innings to take a commanding 4-0 lead early in the seven-inning nightcap. The Eagles scored their two first inning runs on a bases loaded walk and a wild pitch before Tachioka made it 4-0 with a two-run double in the second inning.
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The Eagles sealed the victory with a run in the fourth off of the first collegiate home run of freshman second baseman Caleb Niehaus’ (Newburgh, Indiana) career and in the fifth when junior first baseman Tucker Ebest scored on a wild pitch for the 6-0 final.
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Indiana Earns Three Thursday Top Qualifiers
ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Indiana men’s swimming and diving will have 13 individual finalists, including three of five top qualifiers, in Thursday (Feb. 23) night’s evening session at the 2023 Big Ten Swimming and Diving Championships inside Canham Natatorium.
 IU qualified five student-athletes in both the 50-yard freestyle and 1-meter dive, adding two more in the 500 free as well as the top qualifier in the 200 IM.
To start Thursday morning’s preliminary session, senior Mikey Calvillo (4:18.99) and junior Warren Briggs (4:19.27) each won their heats to get into the 500 free championship final. In the next event, Luke Barr burst into the 200 IM A final as the top qualifier with a career-best 1:43.14.
The Hoosiers then pushed five into 50 free finals with two in the A and three in the B. Senior Van Mathias cut 22 hundredths of a second off his previous career-best, set at midseason, to earn the top qualifying spot and lead a 1-2-3 finish for IU in the fifth prelim heat. Junior Gavin Wight (19.54) finished second in that heat to get into the championship heat, and sophomore Rafael Miroslaw (19.61) earned the No. 10 seed and a place in the consolation final. Senior Jack Franzman (19.63) and sophomore Finn Brooks (19.73) qualified for the B final out of heat No. 7.
Indiana finished its morning with a clinical showing in the 1-meter diving prelim. Returning champion and senior Andrew Capobianco scored 417.10 points to earn the top qualifier spot, followed by sophomore Carson Tyler in the No. 2 seed with a career-best 414.05 points. Last year’s silver medalist, sophomore Quinn Henninger, suffered setbacks on his second and third dives but recovered well to total 343.15 points and IU’s third A final bid. The freshman duo of Maxwell Weinrich (319.05) and Dash Glasberg (282.65) earned spots in the consolation final.
At the end of the night, IU will also compete in the 400-yard medley relay. Indiana has won the event each of the last seven years.
TEAM SCORES
t1. Indiana – 118
t1. Ohio State – 118
- Michigan – 112
t4. Minnesota – 100
t4. Wisconsin – 100
t4. Purdue – 100
- Northwestern – 92
- Penn State – 88
RESULTS
500 FREESTYLE - Mikey Calvillo – 4:18.99 (Championship Final, NCAA B Cut)
- Warren Briggs – 4:19.27 (Championship Final, NCAA B Cut)
X – Mason Carlton – 4:20.25 (Career Best)
X – Jackson Carlile – 4:23.49
X – Jacob Destrampe – 4:25.81 (Career Best)
200 IM
- Luke Barr – 1:43.14 (Championship Final Top Qualifier, NCAA B Cut, Career Best)
27. Jassen Yep – 1:47.30 - Tristan DeWitt – 1:47.93
X – Drew Reiter – 1:48.16
X – Lucas Piunti – 1:48.43 (Career Best)
50 FREESTYLE
- Van Mathias – 19.16 (Championship Final Top Qualifier, NCAA B Cut, Career Best)
- Gavin Wight – 19.54 (Championship Final, NCAA B Cut, Career Best)
- Rafael Miroslaw – 19.61 (Consolation Final, NCAA B Cut)
t11. Jack Franzman – 19.63 (Consolation Final, NCAA B Cut)
t11. Finn Brooks – 19.73 (Consolation Final, NCAA B Cut)
X – Joseph Radde – 20.44 (Career Best)
1-METER DIVE
- Andrew Capobianco – 417.10 (Championship Final Top Qualifier, NCAA Zone Qualifier)
- Carson Tyler – 414.05 (Championship Final, NCAA Zone Qualifier, Career Best)
- Quinn Henninger – 343.15 (Championship Final, NCAA Zone Qualifier)
- Maxwell Weinrich – 319.05 (Consolation Final, NCAA Zone Qualifier)
- Dash Glasberg – 282.65 (Consolation Final)
Three Hoosiers Strike Gold on Thursday
ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Indiana swimming and diving won the last three events of Thursday (Feb. 23) night’s session and sits just nine points off the lead for the team title halfway through the 2023 Big Ten Men’s Swimming and Diving Championships inside Canham Natatorium.
IU won a gold in each of the three disciplines. Senior Van Mathias sprinted to an individual swimming title in the 50-yard freestyle and sophomore Carson Tyler had a dramatic win on the 1-meter springboard before the Hoosiers captured gold in the 400-yard medley relay. Ohio State leads the pack with 487 points, but Indiana is close on its heels with 478 points after two days.
“We have a battle on our hands,” IU head swimming coach Ray Looze said. “I think this is going to come down to the last day, and I give a lot of credit to Ohio State and Michigan, they’re doing a great job. Our guys really dug down deep tonight. I thought our prelim session could have been better, and we’ll need to have a good one tomorrow. That’s what we have to keep our eye on, what we do in the next session.â€
Mathias had never broken 20 seconds prior to the start of the season. Last year, he was swimming the 200 IM on night two of conference championships. A year later, the senior won his first individual Big Ten title in the 50-yard freestyle with a career-best 19.00. Mathias started the day with his best time sitting at 19.38. In prelims, he dropped to 19.16 before trimming it again in the final. His fellow Hoosier in the 50 free A final also earned a personal best, as junior Gavin Wight placed fourth with a 19.26. Sophomore Rafael Miroslaw (19.50) maxed out his points in the B final with a ninth-place finish, while senior Jack Franzman (19.78) and Finn Brooks (19.80) took 14th and 15th, respectively.
Tyler’s worst dive of the day earned him 62.40 points, and his consistency earned him his first-career Big Ten title. The sophomore walked into the championship final as the No. 2 seed after scoring a career-best 414.05 points in the prelim. In the evening, he tallied a 67.20, 72.85. 72.00, 72.00, 72.00 going into his final dive. With Ohio State senior Lyle Yost totaling 430.95 points in front of him, Tyler needed a 74.90 to tie. Tyler didn’t bend to the pressure and executed a reverse 1 ½ somersault with a 2 ½ twist free into 75 points flat.
IU has won the last four Big Ten diving titles as Tyler nabbed the 1-meter crown from teammate and defending champion, redshirt senior Andrew Capobianco, who scored 406.95 points for a third-place finish. Capobianco now has nine medals over five conference meets in his career. Sophomore Quinn Henninger placed sixth (374.75), while freshmen Maxwell Weinrich (363.40) and Dash Glasberg (271.40) bookended the B final.
“What a team effort today,†IU head diving coach Drew Johansen said. “All six of our men scored for the team. Carson had a personal best score while winning his first Big Ten title. Maxwell also had a personal best while winning the B final. Andrew has led this team in so many ways over the years, and his bronze medal performance was another great contribution to the team. We’re looking forward to the next two days.â€
The same quartet that set a Big Ten meet record at last year’s championships won the 400-yard medley relay again Thursday night to stretch IU’s winning streak in the event to eight seasons. Junior Brendan Burns, sophomore Josh Matheny, junior Tomer Frankel and sophomore Rafael Miroslaw went 3:01.53, short of their superlative 3:00.76 from the 2022 national meet, but over four seconds better than the Canham Natatorium facility record (3:06.08).
“We did an awesome job with the end of this session,†Looze said “From Rafael Miroslaw winning the B final, to Van Mathias winning the 50, then Carson Tyler winning the 1-meter and winning the relay – that was a nice way to close things out. We have had a couple good days for us on the boards and in the water, we just have to do our job.”
In the 500 free that started the evening, senior Mikey Calvillo (4:18.45) and junior Warren Briggs (4:18.62) finished fifth and sixth, respectively. Sophomore Luke Barr also earned a top-five finish in the 200 IM, placing fifth in 1:44.06.
TEAM SCORES
Ohio State – 487
Indiana – 478
Michigan – 403
Wisconsin – 341
Minnesota – 280
Purdue – 240
Northwestern – 210
Penn State – 204Â
RESULTS
500 FREESTYLE
- Mikey Calvillo – 4:18.45 (NCAA B Cut)
- Warren Briggs – 4:18.62 (NCAA B Cut)
200 IM - Luke Barr – 1:44.06 (NCAA B Cut)
50 FREESTYLE
- Van Mathias – 19.00 (Big Ten Champion, Pool Record, NCAA B Cut, Career Best)
- Gavin Wight – 19.26 (NCAA B Cut, Career Best)
- Rafael Miroslaw – 19.50 (NCAA B Cut)
- Jack Franzman – 19.78 (NCAA B Cut)
- Finn Brooks – 19.80 (NCAA B Cut)
1-METER DIVE
- Carson Tyler – 431.05 (Big Ten Champion, NCAA Zone Qualifier, Career Best)
- Andrew Capobianco – 406.95 (Bronze, NCAA Zone Qualifier)
- Quinn Henninger – 374.75 (NCAA Zone Qualifier)
- Maxwell Weinrich – 363.40 (NCAA Zone Qualifier, Career Best)
- Dash Glasberg – 271.40
HOT JOBS
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Indiana Homeowner Assistance Fund Offers Monetary Assistance for Delinquent and Future Property Tax Bills
INDIANAPOLIS (Feb. 23, 2023) – The Indiana Homeowner Assistance Fund (IHAF) is a support program for eligible Hoosiers who have experienced hardship from income loss.
Administered by the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority (IHCDA), the IHAF has helped more than 3,500 eligible applicants and disbursed more than $40 million through the program to date.
“As the time for annual property assessments approaches, it is important for Hoosiers to know that IHAF can possibly pay for delinquent and future property charge fees, including property taxes,” said Indiana Lt. Governor Suzanne Crouch, Indiana’s Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development. “Homeowners in Indiana who anticipate having difficulties paying their property taxes, or who already have delinquent property taxes, should visit www.877gethope.org for more information and to start an application.”
Applicants can also connect with a housing counselor who can provide advice and information on their options.
Homeowners may be eligible for assistance if they meet the following requirements:
- Impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and experienced a financial hardship on or after January 21, 2020;
- Own only one mortgaged home;
- Property to be assisted is the primary residence;
- Have an income equal to or less than 150% of the Area Median Income adjusted for household size, or 100% of the National Median Income, whichever is greater; and,
- Live in Indiana.
“In addition to property tax assistance, applicants may also be eligible to receive mortgage reinstatement, up to six months of monthly mortgage payment assistance, and assistance with other property charge fees including homeowner insurance and homeowner association fees,” said Jake Sipe, executive director of IHCDA.
EPD DAILY ACTIVITY REPORT
FOOTNOTE: Â EPD DAILY ACTIVITY REPORT Â information was provided by the EPD and posted by the City-County-County Observer without opinion, bias, or editing.
Toumi records career-high in home finale
Aces fall to Flames by 82-76 final
 EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Yacine Toumi recorded a career-high 20 points in Wednesday’s home finale inside the Ford Center that saw the University of Evansville men’s basketball team fall to UIC by a final of 82-76.
Toumi was 9-for-18 from the field and tied for the game-high with eight rebounds. Kenny Strawbridge Jr. added 18 points with Gage Bobe and Marvin Coleman II finished with 12 and 11, respectively. Jace Carter led the Flames with 22 points and 8 rebounds. Tre Anderson completed the contest with 18 tallies.
Both teams shot well to open the game with UIC hitting their first four attempts to take a 9-4 lead while Evansville was 4-for-6 with a Gage Bobe triple tying the game at 9-9 less than four minutes in. After UIC went back in front at 14-12, the Purple Aces made their move, recording eight in a row.
Preston Phillips got things started with a score off a UIC turnover while Kenny Strawbridge Jr. converted a 3-point play and a triple to give UE a 20-14 lead at the 10:34 mark. The Flames countered with a 9-0 stretch over the next three minutes to retake the lead. They hit three field goals in a row along with two free throws. Evansville missed four shots and turned it over twice in that span.
Bobe connected on his second triple as the Aces knotted the score at 25-25 but the Flames continued to have the answer. Up 28-27, the Flames went on a 12-2 run to take a 40-29 advantage, their largest of the half. Marvin Coleman II hit a three to finish the half with UIC leading, 40-32.
After completing the first half on an offensive run, the Flames kept up the intensity as they opened the second stanza by scoring ten in a row. Facing the 50-32 deficit, the Aces responded with a 10-0 rally. Strawbridge had two 3-point plays and eight total points in the run to make it a single digit game at the 14-minute mark.
Two minutes later, Chris Moncrief knocked down his second shot to get his team within six before finding Phillips for a dunk to cut the deficit to five at the midway point of the half. With 8:15 remaining, the Aces made it a one-possession game when Toumi drove to the basket for his sixth make of the night. A 10-2 UIC run cemented a double-digit lead entering the final five minutes.
Evansville continued to battle in the final minute, getting as close as four points before the Flames wrapped up the 82-76 victory. UIC shot 50.9% on the night while tallying 35 rebounds. UE checked in at 45.5% and a total of 34 boards.
Regular season play comes to a conclusion on Sunday when the Aces visit Illinois State.