Aces drop 97-61 contest to Bulldogs

 EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Scoring 55 points in the first half, Drake pulled away in the final 20 minutes to defeat the University of Evansville men’s basketball team by a score of 97-61 on Saturday afternoon inside the Ford Center.

After shooting 66.7% in the first half, the Bulldogs finished the game at 56.7%.  Evansville had four players score in double figures with Kenny Strawbridge Jr. and Yacine Toumi recording 12 apiece while Antoine Smith Jr. and Marvin Coleman II each chipped in 11.  Gabe Spinelli added 9 points and a team-high five rebounds.  Tucker DeVries led all players with 23 points while Darnell Brodie added 17.  Roman Penn had an unbelievable 18 assists while scoring 13.

“First and foremost, Drake is a very good team.  They were able to get just about everything offensively that they got.  If they play like that, it will be hard for anybody to beat them,” UE head coach David Ragland stated.  “We moved at a good pace offensively in the first half but we could not sustain it.”

Drake reeled off the first seven points of the game to force a time out by Evansville.  The Aces regrouped and went on a 14-2 run to take a 14-9 lead.  Antoine Smith Jr. got his team on the board with a triple before hitting a runner to make it a 9-5 score.  Three consecutive triples by Gabe Spinelli, Smith and Marvin Coleman II put UE in front as the team hit five out of six shots during the stretch.

With the Aces in front, the Bulldogs stormed back.  Going on a 18-2 run, the Bulldogs retook the lead at 27-16 as they capped the run off scoring 11 in a row.  With the half moving under 10 minutes remaining, Chris Moncrief and Yacine Toumi recorded field goals to trim the deficit back down to seven.

Shots continued to fall for the Bulldogs, who shot 66.7% in the opening stanza.  Connecting on nine of their final ten attempts, Drake led by a 55-34 margin at halftime.  Equally impressive in the opening 20 minutes was their 8-for-12 performance from long range.  UE converted six of its 12 attempts from 3-point range in the period.

Evansville posted the first two baskets of the second half but it was Drake with the big run, scoring nine in a row and 12 of the next 14 to take a 67-40 advantage.  Up 73-50, the Bulldogs scored the next nine to push their lead to 82-50.  The final score of 97-61 matched their largest margin of the game.

Another home game is coming up Wednesday when the Aces welcome Belmont for a 7 p.m. tip.

VINCENNES, Ind. – The Vincennes University Lady Trailblazers are again battling injuries, leaving Hall of Fame Head Coach Harry Meeks with just eight active players Saturday afternoon.

The Lady Blazers battled a tough back-and-forth game against the Blue Angels of Kaskaskia College, using a late fourth quarter scoring burst to pick up the 75-69 Region 24 win.

VU got off to a slow start Saturday afternoon, quickly falling behind 8-2, before rallying back to tie the game at 10-10.

The Blazers would put together an 8-2 scoring run of their own to close out the first quarter of play, ending the first 10 minutes of action with a 21-19 advantage.

Vincennes grabbed a five-point lead early in the second quarter before the Blue Angels responded back to outscore VU 16-2 to take a 38-29 lead.

VU would cut the deficit before halftime however, heading into the midway break trailing 40-37 on the home floor.

The Lady Blazers looked determined coming out of the locker room and battled in a back-and-forth third quarter.

The score was tied four times and the lead changed hands three times in the third quarter alone before Kaskaskia hit a buzzer beater to take a 60-58 lead into the final quarter.

Vincennes looked to completely swing the momentum of the game in the fourth quarter, evening the score at 64-64 with just under 6:30 on the clock, before taking the lead with a free throw and never looking back.

The Lady Blazers outscored the Blue Angels 10-3 down the stretch of the game and held Kaskaskia to just nine fourth quarter points as VU came away with the 75-69 win over the Blue Angels.

“We were able to win this game by being tenacious and playing hard,” VU Hall of Fame Head Coach Harry Meeks said. “I looked out at the floor one time and we had all five girls playing out of position. All I can say is that that was a really gutsy effort. Our girls played hard. That’s what we are going to have to have late in the this season.”

“All of our girls really stepped up today,” Meeks added. “They played and played extra minutes than normal and I can only say that it was a great win for us given the situation that we were in. That’s really difficult to coach your way out of and our girls played their way out of it. That was the most important thing to me. They didn’t give up. I had to get after them a couple of times for just doing things that are not conducive to winning but they hung in there and played. They did a really good job late in the game. We played a zone defense for most of the game, but with about six minutes left we switched to a man defense. Once we did that, they did a really good job finishing the game.”

VU was led offensively by sophomore Daylynn Thornton (Lafayette, Ind.) who ended her day with 18 points a career-high eight assists and a team-high two steals.

Freshman Elikya Baseyila (Paris, France) polished off her seventh double-double this season after battling foul trouble in the first half. Baseyila came away with 14 points and 17 rebounds, while also leading VU with three blocks.

Freshman Brie Miller (Greencastle, Ind.) had the best game of her collegiate career so far Saturday, picking up her first career double-double and setting new career-highs with 13 points and 11 rebounds. Miller also dished out three assists and came away with two steals.

Sophomore Nyre Williams (Indianapolis, Ind.) came off the bench to add 11 points and six rebounds to the VU totals, while freshman Maycee Lange (Vincennes, Ind.) was the fifth VU scorer in double-figures with 10 points and four rebounds.

Sophomore Cherrelle Newsom (Indianapolis, Ind.) struggled to find open space to shoot all day long, but still nearly came away with a double-double, ending with nine points and matching Thornton’s team-high eight assists, setting a new career-high.

EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – University of Southern Indiana Women’s Basketball made a big, fourth-quarter charge against Southern Illinois University Edwardsville on Saturday afternoon, but the Screaming Eagles’ push came up a little short as the Cougars held on to win 78-69.
 
SIUE started off fast in the first 90 seconds of the game with an early 6-0 advantage. Southern Indiana then found its offensive spark to narrow the early deficit under the eight-minute mark of the first quarter. Sophomore guard Vanessa Shafford (Linton, Indiana) drilled back-to-back jumpers, including one from three, to bring USI back within one, 8-7.
 
Later in the first quarter, Southern Indiana began attacking downhill aggressively, earning trips to the foul line. The assertiveness from USI forced SIUE into early foul trouble. The Screaming Eagles made nine trips to the charity stripe in the first quarter, knocking down seven free throws. SIUE led 18-16 after the opening 10 minutes.
 
At the beginning of the second quarter, the Cougars pushed their lead back up to six. After a pair of made free throws for USI, junior guard Lexie Green (Indianapolis, Indiana) canned a three from the top of the arc to trim the deficit down to one, 22-21. The offenses slowed down over the course of the next few minutes. A layup by senior forward Hannah Haithcock (Washington Courthouse, Ohio) with 3:58 left in the first half put USI ahead, 25-24. Both offenses went back and forth for the remainder of the second period, as SIUE took a three-point lead, 35-32, into halftime.
 
Out of the break, SIUE came out with extensive pressure and hot shooting to begin the second half. The Cougars went on a 10-0 run over the first 1:38 of the third quarter. Trailing 45-42, the Screaming Eagles responded with consecutive baskets to cut the margin back down to nine, 45-36.
 
Midway into the third period, graduate forward Ashlynn Brown (Perrysburg, Ohio) made two consecutive baskets inside to bring SIUE’s lead down to five, 47-42. In the last 3:30 of the third quarter, SIUE’s defense and offense clicked, as the Cougars outscored USI 11-3 for the remainder of the third to take a 58-45 lead into the fourth quarter.
 
SIUE increased its lead at the start of the fourth period, extending the margin up to 18, 63-45. Approaching the halfway point of the fourth, the Screaming Eagles started their pushback, as junior forward Meredith Raley (Haubstadt, Indiana) connected on consecutive layups. Inside the five-minute mark, a layup by Brown was followed by a buried three-pointer from senior guard Tori Handley (Jeffersonville, Indiana) to make the score 65-54 SIUE.
 
A minute later, Raley cashed in at the foul line and then made a jumper in the next possession to bring USI back within seven, 65-58. Southern Indiana was able to cut the deficit down to five, 65-60, with three minutes left, but SIUE closed out the game from there with a pair of key jumpers and free throws down the stretch.
 
Southern Indiana was led on the afternoon by Raley with 19 points on 6-14 shooting and 7-8 at the foul line. The junior also pulled down eight rebounds and dished out four assists. Shafford tallied 14 points, going 5-12 from the field, and grabbed six boards. Brown also recorded double figures with 10 points in the game. USI went 22-62 for 35 percent from the floor, including four three-pointers, and 21-25 for 84 percent at the stripe. The Screaming Eagles outrebounded the Cougars 44-37 overall and 17-11 on the offensive glass.
 
SIUE was led in scoring by sophomore guard Molly Sheehan, who posted 18 points with four made triples. Sophomore guard Sofie Lowis and senior forward Ajulu Thatha each scored 13 points. The Cougars were 26-62 for 42 percent on the day, hitting eight three-pointers, and went 18-21 for 86 percent at the free-throw line.
 
Saturday’s result moved USI’s record to 9-10 overall and 3-5 in Ohio Valley Conference play, while SIUE improved its record to 6-13 on the season and 5-3 in OVC games. Both teams sit in the middle of the Ohio Valley Conference standings. The coming week will mark the halfway point of the Ohio Valley Conference season.
 

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Women’s Swimming & Diving fell to Southern Illinois University on Saturday, 194-46. The Screaming Eagles secured ten top-three finishes along with five second place finishes.
 
Freshman Mattilynn Smith (Morgantown, Kentucky) recorded two second place finishes for USI in the 500 and 1000-Yard Freestyles. Sophomore Adele Schnautz (Evansville, Indiana) and freshman Kate Hilgarth (Indianapolis, Indiana) took a second-place finish each. Schnautz in the 200-Yard IM and Hilgarth in the 100-Yard Backstroke. Freshmen Sarah-Catherine Dawson (Prospect, Kentucky), Hannah Gardner (Bowling Green, Kentucky), and Makana Goss (Noblesville, Indiana) each recorded a third-place finish for the Eagles. Dawson in the 100-Yard Butterfly, Gardner in the 100-Yard Breaststroke, and Goss in the 100-Yard Backstroke.The team also took third in the 200-Yard Freestyle Relay.
 
Freshman Autumn Turley (Hobart, Indiana) finished seventh in both the 1-meter and 3-meter dives. Earning 181.42 points in the 1-meter and 143.77 points in the 3-meter.
 
Other Top Men’s Results:
1000-Yard Freestyle: 10:53.65 (2nd) – Smith
200-Yard IM: 2:15.36 (2nd) – Schnautz
1-Meter Dive: 181.42 pts (7th) – Turley
100-Yard Butterfly: 1:01.26 (3rd) – Dawson
100-Yard Backstroke: 1:01.01 (2nd) – Hilgarth
500-Yard Freestyle: 5:21.88 (2nd) – Smith
3-Meter Diving: 143.77 pts (7th) – Turley
100-Yard Breaststroke: 1:09.29 (3rd) – Gardner
200-Yard Freestyle Relay: 1:27.57 (3rd) – Smith, Schnautz, Freshmen Emily McIntosh (Huntertown, Indiana), Abbi Hendren (Millington, Tennessee)
 

University of Southern Indiana Men’s Swimming & Diving fell to Southern Illinois University on Saturday, 154-75. The Screaming Eagles secured eight top-three finishes along with three second place finishes.
 
Freshman Carson Faley (Dixon, Illinois) recorded two second place finishes for USI in the 200 and 500-Yard Freestyles. The Eagles also took second in the 200-Yard Freestyle Relay. Freshman Connor Harden (Centennial, Colorado) led the rest of the two with two third place finishes in the 100-Yard Backstroke and the 200-Yard IM. Freshman Grant VanWanzeele (Plainfield, Indiana) grabbed another third-place finish for USI in the 1000-Yard Freestyle. The team also took third in the 200-Yard Medley Relay and the 200-Yard Freestyle Relay.
 
The Eagles were able to secure all 26 points in diving as freshmen Lane Pollock (Boonville, Indiana) and Donnevun Banks split the two events. Pollock took first in the 1-meter, scoring a 249.00, while Banks took first in the 3-meter, scoring a 239.25.
 
Other Top Men’s Results:
200-Yard Medley Relay: 1:37.38 (3^rd) – Freshmen Gabriel Groves (New Carlisle, Indiana), Caleb Davis (Spring, Texas), Colton Agdeppa (Redding, California), Sophomore Payton Buse (Lynnville, Indiana)
1000-Yard Freestyle: 10:52.47 (3^rd) – VanWanzeele
200-Yard Freestyle: 1:45.50 (2^nd) – Faley
50-Yard Freestyle: 21.98 (4^th) – Buse
200-Yard IM: 2:05.12 (3^rd) – Harden
1-Meter Dive: 249.00 pts (1^st) – Pollock
100-Yard Backstroke: 56.65 (3^rd) – Harden
500-Yard Freestyle: 4:48.54 (2^nd) – Faley
3-Meter Diving: 239.25 pts (1^st) – Banks
200-Yard Freestyle Relay: 1:27.57 (2^nd) – Groves, Davis, Agdeppa, Buse
 

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – No. 7/9 Indiana swimming and diving extended its winning streaks against Purdue on Saturday (Jan. 21) inside Morgan J. Burke Aquatic Center in West Lafayette, Ind.

IU men’s swimming and diving has won 13 consecutive meets against Purdue going back to the 2010-11 season, while the women’s team is 12-0 since 2011-12.

Indiana won three of four diving events on Saturday, including a sweep of the men’s events. Sophomores Quinn Henninger and Carson Tyler won the 1-meter and platform events, while reigning Big Ten diver of the week and junior Anne Fowler pulled out a win in the women’s 1-meter competition. Tyler showed consistency in his platform performance, earning at least 60 points on all six dives, including four dives worth at least 70 points.

Junior Jassen Yep led IU swimmers with three victories after sweeping the breaststroke races and then being rewarded the win in the 200 IM after touching in 1:51.65. Seniors Brendan Burns and Mikey Calvillo swam the individual medley in 1:50.11 and 1:50.58, respectively, but were listed as exhibitions in what was a 1-2-3 finish for the Hoosiers in the second of two heats.

TEAM SCORES

Men

No. 7 Indiana 159, Purdue 133

Women

No. 9 Indiana 161, Purdue 128

HOOSIER WINNERS

Men

Luke Barr – 200 medley relay (1:26.01)

Warren Briggs – 500 freestyle (4:34.45)

Brendan Burns – 200 freestyle (1:36.36)

Tristan DeWitt – 1,000 freestyle (9:27.38)

Tomer Frankel – 200 medley relay (1:26.01), 200 butterfly (1:47.44), 100 butterfly (47.13), 400 freestyle relay (2:54.87)

Quinn Henninger – 1-meter diving (390.30)

Van Mathias – 200 medley relay (1:26.01), 50 freestyle (20.09), 400 freestyle relay (2:54.87)

Rafael Miroslaw – 100 freestyle (43.69)

Joseph Radde – 400 freestyle relay (2:54.87)

Carson Tyler – Platform diving (423.80)

Kai Van Westering – 200 backstroke (1:47.60)

Gavin Wight – 200 medley relay (1:26.01), 100 backstroke (47.64), 400 freestyle relay (2:54.87)

Jassen Yep – 100 breaststroke (54.51), 200 breaststroke (1:58.21), 200 IM (1:51.65)

Women

Elizabeth Broshears – 200 medley relay (1:40.38), 100 butterfly (55.26)

Brearna Crawford – 200 breaststroke (2:17.49)

Anne Fowler – 1-meter diving (306.80)

Anna Freed – 100 backstroke (55.73)

Lily Hahn – 200 butterfly (2:01.56)

Elyse Heiser – 400 freestyle (3:22.07)

Mackenzie Looze – 100 breaststroke (1:01.79), 400 freestyle relay (3:22.07)

Kacey McKenna – 200 medley relay (1:40.83)

Kristina Paegle – 200 medley relay (1:40.38), 200 freestyle (1:49.11), 100 freestyle (49.51), 400 freestyle relay (3:22.07)

Anna Peplowski – 50 freestyle (23.05)

Noelle Peplowski – 200 medley relay (1:40.38), 200 backstroke (1:59.81), 400 freestyle relay (3:22.07)

NCAA CUTS

A: None.

B: Tomer Frankel – 100 fly (47.13)

NCAA ZONE QUALIFYING SCORES

1-meter: Andrew Capobianco (363.00), Anne Fowler (306.80), Quinten Henninger (390.30), Carson Tyler (342.95)

Platform: Anne Fowler (235.95), Quinten Henninger (377.90), Carson Tyler (423.80), Maxwell Weinrich (313.95)