Second-half comeback falls just short for UE women’s basketball

11/30/2024

Second-half comeback falls just short for UE women’s basketball

The Purple Aces increased their second-half shooting percentage by almost 20%

NEW ORLEANS – The University of Evansville women’s basketball team ended its time at the Big Easy Classic with a 65-54 loss to the Delaware Blue Hens.

The Purple Aces offense struggled to find its rhythm during the first half of their final game during Feast Week. UE only shot 14% in the first 20 minutes but was able to turn things around in the final 20. Yet Evansville couldn’t catch up to Delaware after they opened up a 23-point lead near the end of the first half. Freshman guard Camryn Runner (Cicero, Ind. / Hamilton Heights HS) exploded in the second half with 16 points to lead the Aces on offense, scoring 22 points after 40 minutes against the Blue Hens.

UE opened the game’s scoring with a second-chance layup from sophomore guard Maggie Hartwig (Sauk City / Sauk Prairie HS). A free throw by senior guard Júlia Palomo (La Seu D’Urgell, Spain) a minute after Delaware went to the line put Evansville back up by one. But the Aces offense would go cold for the next six minutes as the Blue Hens built an 18-point lead. UE didn’t score another bucket from the floor until the quarter’s final minute as senior forward Anica Skrivan (Trebinje, Bosnia & Herzegovina) made a jump shot.

Evansville’s offensive struggles from the floor continued in the second quarter. Freshman guard Camryn Runner (Cicero, Ind. / Hamilton Heights HS) made two free throws early, but the Aces’ first field goal came over four minutes into the quarter. Hartwig broke an over two-minute stretch with no points from either team with a driving layup. Runner went back to the line soon after to cut UE’s deficit to 17 points. Evansville only scored two more field goals in the first half as they headed into halftime down by 21 points to Delaware.

The Aces got things going quickly to start the second half with five straight points. It was a back-and-forth game for most of the third quarter. UE had one other brief run with three minutes to go in the third to bring the deficit down to 16. The Blue Hens were able to get their lead back to 19 as neither team scored in the final two minutes of the quarter.

Evansville had a big start to the final frame at the Big Easy Classic with a seven-point run in the first three minutes. The Aces held Delaware from making any runs until the final minute of the game, bringing the Blue Hens shooting percentage down to 18.2%. During the middle of the fourth quarter, it was a back-and-forth game. UE got within 12 points of Delaware on three separate occasions in the fourth. But Evansville wasn’t able to catch up with the Blue Hens in the 65-54 loss.

Along with Runner, Hartwig ended the night in double digits with 11 points after only scoring four in the first half. Runner made 12 of her 22 points at the charity stripe for the Aces for her second-best game at the line. While not scoring in double digits, Palomo was a big part of the Aces offensive turnaround in the second half, leading the team with three steals.

UE returns home to Meeks Family Fieldhouse for a single game next weekend. Evansville will welcome SIUE to the River City on Sunday, December 8th. Tip-off against the Cougars is set for 1 p.m. at Meeks.

-www.gopurpleaces.com-

THUNDERBOLTS RALLY TO GAIN POINT, FALL 4-3 IN SHOOUTOUT

11/30/2024

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THUNDERBOLTS RALLY TO GAIN POINT, FALL 4-3 IN SHOOUTOUT

Knoxville, Tn.: The Thunderbolts fought for a well-earned point, rallying from two one-goal deficits to force overtime and then a shootout, however the Ice Bears prevailed 4-3 on Saturday in Knoxville. The Thunderbolts’ next home game will be on Saturday, December 7th against the Huntsville Havoc at 7:05pm CT.

Evansville grabbed the first lead of the game, as Tyson Gilmour scored his team-leading 6th goal of the season at 5:53 of the first period, assisted by Bronson Adams. The Ice Bears tied the game at 13:59 with a power play goal from Eric Olson. Late in the period, Olson challenged Jordan Simoneau after taking a penalty and did very poorly as Simoneau pounded Olson to the ice twice in a very one-sided fight, that Simoneau initially started on the defensive. Seconds later, Matthew Hobbs took on Jimmy Soper in a captain-versus-captain scrap in the neutral zone, with Hobbs scoring the takedown towards the end. 6:17 into the second period, Carson Vance scored a power play goal to give Knoxville a 2-1 lead.

The Thunderbolts rallied later in the second period, as Brendan Harrogate tied the game at 2-2 with a rebound goal off the rush, assisted by Scott Kirton and Gilmour at 14:34. However, the Ice Bears regained the lead at 19:25 on a goal from Dalton Skelly. The Thunderbolts dominated the third period, and Logan vande Meerakker tied the game at 10:38 off a rush up the far wing, assisted by Myles Abbate. Evansville and Knoxville traded several scoring chances in overtime, but the game would not be finished until the shootout, where the Ice Bears emerged victorious 3-2 in the shootout, and the game 4-3. Kirton and Harrogate provided Evansville’s shootout goals in the second and fourth rounds, respectively.

Gilmour finished with a goal and assist, while Harrogate and vande Meerakker each scored one goal. In goal for Evansville, Ty Taylor finished with 24 saves on 27 shots. The Thunderbolts and Ice Bears meet once again on Saturday, December 21st at Knoxville Civic Coliseum.

Individual game tickets, group packages, and season tickets are on sale for the 2024-25 season. Call 812-422-BOLT or visit our all-new website (www.evansvillethunderbolts.com) for details.

Aces women’s basketball drops first game of the Big Easy Classic

11/30/2024

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Aces women’s basketball drops first game of the Big Easy Classic

The Purple Aces fell to the Nicholls Colonels 38-50

NEW ORLEANS – The University of Evansville women’s basketball team had a tough start to its first-holiday tournament appearance since 2015 on Friday night.

A slow start and only shooting 28.6% in the first half from the floor was too much for the Purple Aces to overcome in their first game of the Big Easy New Orleans Classic. UE was able to get within eight points in the fourth quarter, but a 6-1 run kept Evansville from an opening win. Senior guard Júlia Palomo (La Seu d’Urgell, Spain) led the Aces with 12 points on 63.6% shooting, five rebounds, two assists, and two steals.

UE found themselves down early as Nicholls put up six points in the first two minutes and 40 seconds. Neither team scored for almost two minutes, but it was Palomo who broke the drought with her first three of the night. It was another couple of minutes for either team to make a basket as Palomo made it a one-point game with under four to go in the first quarter. The teams traded shots for the final two minutes of the first for a 12-11 score after ten.

Evansville picked up its first lead of the night to start the second quarter as it was again Palomo hitting a three only 38 seconds in. The Colonels tied the game a minute later, but sophomore forward Maggie Hartwig (Sauk City, Wis. / Sauk Prairie HS) put the Aces back up by two with a layup on the next possession. For the next two-plus minutes neither team scored but it was Nicholls whose offense got going in the final five minutes of the first half. Freshman guard Camryn Runner (Cicero, Ind. / Hamilton Heights HS) put UE up by two again at the free-throw line. But an over five-minute cold spell for Evansville to end the half saw the team facing a six-point deficit.

The Aces’ struggle on offense continued to start the second half as the Colonels extended their lead to 11. Runner got UE back into single digits of Nicholls as forward Tamesha Dozier (Louisville, Ky. / Wabash Valley) followed up with the next made basket, a second chance tip-in two minutes later. The game settled into a back-and-forth pace until the final minute of the third quarter. The Colonels grew the deficit for Evansville to 16 with six points to end the quarter.

Scoring in the final quarter started at the line for the Aces as Hartwig and Runner made four straight in the first minute and a half. Nicholls responded with a three for the largest lead of the game at 17. UE answered quickly, breaking off the team’s longest run of the night with nine points in under two minutes. It became a shot-for-shot game for the next minute and a half as Evansville fought to keep the deficit in single digits. But the Aces wouldn’t make a basket from the floor for the final three minutes, dropping their first game of the Big Easy Classic 63-50 to Nicholls.

UE had three players in double-figures as Palomo (12), Hartwig (12), and Runner (11) led the way on offense. Dozier led Evansville under the glass with a season-high eight rebounds while contributing six points on offense. Four Aces had two assists each in Palomo, Runner, and freshman guards Kaiden Kreinhagen (Indianapolis / North Central HS) and Avery Kelley (Evansville, Ind. / Memorial HS)

It will be a quick turnaround for UE as they play the Delaware Blue Hens on Saturday evening. It will be Evansville’s first program game against Delaware and its final of the Big Easy Classic. Tip-off from the Alario Center is set for 5:45 p.m.

Thunderbolts Shut Out 4-0 in Knoxville

11/30/2024

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THUNDERBOLTS SHUT OUT 4-0 IN KNOXVILLE

Knoxville, Tn.: The tough offensive luck that plagued the Thunderbolts on Wednesday followed the team to Tennessee, as the Thunderbolts were held scoreless on 30 shots in a 4-0 loss to the Ice Bears in Knoxville on Friday. The Thunderbolts’ next home game will be on Saturday, December 7th against the Huntsville Havoc at 7:05pm CT.

The Thunderbolts played a strong first period, coming close on several opportunities in the Ice Bears zone, however they could not find a way to score the first goal. Knoxville burst ahead late in the first period, as Dalton Skelly scored off a net-front pass at 14:41 to give the Ice Bears the lead. 21 seconds later at 15:02, a screened shot by Cam Tobey somehow found a hole through Cole Ceci to double the lead to 2-0. On a power play at 18:59, another screened shot deflected by Eric Olson found the back of the net to make it 3-0 Knoxville. The score remained the same following an even yet scoreless second period, and well into the third period, before Mitch Atkins finished the scoring on a rebound at 13:04 to put the game away. In goal for Evansville, Ceci finished with 29 saves on 33 shots. The Thunderbolts and Ice Bears meet once again on Saturday, November 30th at Knoxville Civic Coliseum.

Individual game tickets, group packages, and season tickets are on sale for the 2024-25 season. Call 812-422-BOLT or visit our all-new website (www.evansvillethunderbolts.com) for details.

About Evansville Thunderbolts: The Evansville Thunderbolts is the area’s only professional hockey team. The Thunderbolts are a proud member of the SPHL. The team is owned and operated by VW Sports, L.L.C, a subsidiary of VenuWorks, Inc. www.evansvillethunderbolts.com

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Vanderburgh County Recent Booking Records

11/30/2024

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Booked Last 24 Hours-Public

Movie Review: ‘Wicked’ proves spellbinding on the big screen

11/30/2024

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‘Wicked’ proves spellbinding on the big screen

By Scott McDaniel, TheStatehouseFile.com Nov 29, 2024

Whereas some musical adaptations flop, “Wicked” defies gravity and soars into the cinematic spotlight.

“Wicked” already crescendoed to a $114 million opening, the third-best start of the year. And with Thanksgiving around the corner, it’s gonna be pop-u-lar.

Stephen Schwartz’s 2003 Broadway hit has entertained audiences for decades now, but film director Jon M. Chu (“Crazy Rich Asians” and “In the Heights”) has finally brought the Tony Award-winning classic to the big screen.

Pop megastar Ariana Grande (Glinda) and Tony-winner Cynthia Erivo (Elphaba) are sensational, choosing to sing live rather than acting over a prerecorded track. Fans of the theatre production should be pleased, as the insanely talented duo create an emotionally charged adaptation, with Chu using the magic of cinema to bring their fantastical world to life.

After accidentally displaying her raw magical powers, a young, green Elphaba finds herself enrolled in her sister’s college—which would be more exciting if she wasn’t forced to live with the roommate she never wanted: the pink-loving blonde Glinda.

At first, it seems they’re total opposites, bound to hate one another. But after one cruel trick, empathy takes hold and their relationship shifts to an unlikely friendship. So when Elphaba’s uncontrolled powers get her noticed, she brings Glinda with her to meet the Wizard of Oz.

All-star casting sees Michelle Yeoh (who won an Oscar for “Everything, Everywhere, All at Once”) as the dean of sorcery studies, Michelle Yeoh. And a long time dream came true for many Broadway fans when Jeff Goldblum was picked to play the Wizard of Oz.

But it’s Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero who pops, or dances, off the screen. The “Bridgerton” star dazzles his Shiz University classmates and movie-goers alike with charm and rhythm.

The cast is amazing, working their way through part one of the musical in two hours and 40 minutes (part two is due out November 2025). The film doesn’t feel that long—not only because the musical numbers are stellar but because when the pace does slow down, the camera can move in close on some powerful acting, capturing the emotions more intimately than you’d see them from a theatre balcony seat.

“Wicked” is enchanting and may have you listening to its soundtrack on a loop as you count down the days until part two.

4.5/5

Scott McDaniel is department chair and an assistant professor of journalism at Franklin College. He lives in Bargersville with his wife and three kids.

Buy Local Today on Small Business Saturday

11/30/2024

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The City-County Observer is a small business that understands what it means to build a business from the ground up that is dedicated to serving our neighbors here in Evansville. We’re just one of many locally owned businesses that are classified as small and local.

Big box and e-commerce businesses have Black Friday and Cyber Monday. To counter that, Small Business Saturday encourages people to do business with the small and local shops.

We encourage you to do some shopping and dining this holiday season with the the hometown folks who have invested in our community.

Small Business Saturday was observed for the first time on November 27, 2010, by American Express.

Jim Redwine Gavel Gamut: Still a Winner

11/30/2024

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GAVEL GAMUT
By Jim Redwine
www.jamesmredwine.com
(Week of 02 December 2024)
STILL A WINNER

Gentle Reader, if you read last week’s Gavel Gamut column you know I predicted
Indiana University would win last Saturday’s football game against Ohio State University; we didn’t. On the other hand, I.U. has already won 10 games this season and, I predict, I.U. will defeat Purdue November 30, 2024 in Bloomington, Indiana. I am ever hopeful when it comes to I.U. sports.

O.S.U. played an excellent game. Their victory was not due to bad calls or untimely
injuries or the weather. They just out played us in all phases of the game. However, we were competitive in the first half and evidenced the elements of a future Big Ten champion. Who knows? Next year? Five years from now? In my life-time? The most important elements this year’s team has displayed on the football field are a belief in themselves and a will to win.

But, what about now? Indiana has never before had a 10-game season and, when we beat
Purdue, it will be 11. On top of that, if I.U. does win against Purdue there is an excellent chance it will be selected as one of the 12 teams playing in the College Football Playoffs. Should we lose to Purdue there is probably no chance. But I.U. could make the CFP and have a chance to win more games with a win this Saturday (November 30, 2024).

Regardless, I.U. has already won 10 games this season including teams such as Michigan,
Michigan State, Nebraska, Washington, UCLA, Wisconsin and Illinois. While several of the
games have been close, that simply shows character and an ability to compete when games are challenging. You may recall, Gentle Reader, that last week’s column exposited some of Indiana’s past teams of character such as the teams of 1945 and 1967. This team of 2024 can lay claim to that same mantle.

We did not beat O.S.U. last week but this year we have shown the character to beat them
in the future. This team is a winner no matter what 2024 score was predicted.

For more Gavel Gamut articles go to www.jamesmredwine.com

Victorian Christmas Traditions!

11/30/2024

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Experience the holidays as they were celebrated in the 1800s at Willard Public Library’s Victorian Christmas Traditions! Join us on Tuesday, December 3rd, 2024, from 5:00 – 7:30 PM in the Lankford Reading Room and Browning Gallery for an evening filled with history, music, and festive cheer.

Event Details:

Date: Tuesday, December 3, 2024

Time: 5 PM

Location: Lankford Reading Room & Browning Gallery

Here’s what to look forward to:

Live Music & Photo Ops: Enjoy the sounds of a brass quartet and capture memories with Father Christmas and the mischievous Krampus.
Historical Insights: At 6:00 PM, discover how Americans celebrated Christmas during the challenges of the late 1800s.
Tree Decorating & Treats: Help decorate our Browning Gallery Christmas tree with traditional Victorian ornaments and enjoy authentic treats crafted by local bakeries.

This free, interactive event is open to everyone—no library card required! But if you don’t have one yet, it’s the perfect opportunity to sign up and explore all the library has to offer.

Here’s what you can harvest this December: Indiana’s hunting and trapping opportunities

11/30/2024

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Indiana div fish and wildlife banner - 700px

Photo courtesy of R3 Clearinghouse.

Deer seasons

If you haven’t harvested a deer yet this season, there’s still time. See the open hunting seasons below.

Reduction Zone: now – Jan. 31, 2025
Archery: now – Jan. 5, 2025
Firearms: now – Dec. 1, 2024

Photo courtesy of R3 Clearinghouse.

Muzzleloader season: Make history with your harvest

Are you interested in the heritage of hunting or looking to extend your hunting season this year? Try muzzleloader hunting during the open season, Dec. 7 – 22. Although the muzzleloader became Indiana’s state firearm only recently, in 2012, it has been used by Hoosier hunters for centuries.

Make your own history on your next hunt. Find more tips and tricks for deer hunting on our website.

New DNR system for licenses, harvests, and gift certificates launches Dec. 11

A new system that will enhance online customers’ ease of doing business with the Division of Fish & Wildlife will launch Dec. 11.

Called the Activity Hub, it replaces the current licensing system and includes core functionalities such as fish and wildlife license sales, game check-in, HIP (Harvest Information Program) registration, donations, and gift certificates. Improved functions and new features of the hub include options for the auto-renewal of licenses and purchases of durable license cards, as well as enhanced support during times of high-volume traffic.

The Hub will be accessible with an Access Indiana account. Those with existing accounts will be able to log in without any disruption. Customers with recent purchases, harvests, or existing licenses from January 2020 to the present will automatically be migrated into the new system and won’t need to take any additional steps to access their account.

Customers who want to retain license purchase information, information on past draws, or CheckIN Game data from before 2020 should take screenshots of their records before 11:59 p.m. Dec. 10. Customers who need help retaining older data or who have questions regarding their accounts should call the DNR Customer Service Center at 317-232-4200 or 877-463-6367, or email INHuntFish@dnr.IN.gov.

6 winners of the DFW Art & Photo Contest and their corresponding images.

Winners of DFW’s first Art & Photo Contest announced

Hoosiers have talent far beyond being top hunters, trappers, and anglers. With almost 450 entries submitted to our durable license card art and photo contest, we increased the number of winners from four to six to include two more of our staff’s favorites.

These images will be the background art for the new durable license cards available early next year. Thanks to those who shared their art with us.

A: Short-eared Owl Photo. Photographer: Triston Vittorio
B: White-Tailed Deer Photo. Photographer: Mike Mosier
C: Wild Turkey Photo. Photographer: Carson Hughes
D: Hooded Mergansers Painting. Artist: Robin J. Myers
E: Largemouth Bass Drawing. Artist: Boris Angelkov, Age 11
F: Painted Turtle Photo. Photographer: Bill St.Clair

Two muskrats in water.

Open trapping seasons

Find current open trapping seasons below.

Species	Trapping Seasons
Red & Gray Fox	now – Jan. 31
Coyote & Striped Skunk	now – March 15
Raccoon & Opossum	now – Jan. 31
Mink, Muskrat, Long-tailed Weasel	now – Jan. 31
Beaver	now – March 15
River Otter	now – March 15 (or until quota is met)

For more information on furbearer trapping, such as best management practices, traps, and species reports, visit our trapping webpage.

Phillip Duracz, a past State Record Fish burbot tile holder, with his 11.4-pound burbot.

Phillip Duracz, a past State Record Fish burbot title holder, with his 11.4-pound burbot.

Fish for a record

If you’re an angler looking for competition, be sure to check out Indiana’s Record Fish program, which recognizes State Record Fish and Fish of the Year.

Fish of the Year: Size is determined by a total length measurement, or fork length for shovelnose sturgeon. No weight measurement is required. Entries must be submitted online or emailed by Dec. 15 of the calendar year the fish was caught. Any FOTY entries received after Dec. 15 will be included in the next year’s competition.

State Record Fish: Size is determined by weight measurement first, then length (both measurements are required). The weight measurement must be taken on a scale certified by the State of Indiana.

Find more information for submitting your next big catch on our website.

See our Public Access team in action

Looking for more access to our state’s water resources? DNR’s public access manages more than 400 sites across the state that provide free access for fishing, boating, and paddling to everyone in Indiana. Take a look at the work this team does and learn how to find free access to Indiana waters in our latest YouTube video.

Photo courtesy of Central Indiana Land Trust, Incorporated.

Division of Nature Preserves dedicates Fern Station Nature Preserve

Last week, Division of Nature Preserves celebrated the dedication of Fern Station Nature Preserve in Putnam County. Fern Station is an unbroken forest that offers forest interior habitat for wildlife. Dominated by white oak, beech, and hickory trees, it is rich with woodland species, including wood thrush, Acadian flycatcher, and Northern parula. The site is home to an abundant population of Kentucky warblers, as well as red-shouldered hawks.

Rare species located within Fern Station include cerulean, worm-eating, and hooded warblers; broad-winged hawks; and Eastern box turtles. Tributaries of Snake Creek contain amphibian life. The wooded ravines support a rich understory of native shrubs and a variety of fern species, including maiden hair, broad beech, fragile, glade, sensitive, Christmas, silvery spleenwort, and crested ferns.

This project was funded by the Next Level Conservation Trust and donations from the Central Indiana Land Trust, Incorporated.

Deer harvest data.

Check in on Indiana’s deer harvest

Do you want to see dynamic data of the statewide deer harvest? Updated once per day during deer hunting seasons, the interactive display shows harvest by county, equipment type, location, and more. View the dashboard online via desktop or mobile.

Two barn owls in a nest box.

Watch wildlife from the comfort of your home

As temperatures drop, it can be harder to go outside and recreate. The DNR website provides local wildlife viewing opportunities for you to see from the inside of your house. If you’re a birder, visit Goose Pond Fish & Wildlife Area’s web camera page to see their live birding and barn owl nest cameras.

An open prairie.

Celebrate World Wildlife Conservation Day

On Dec. 4, celebrate World Wildlife Conservation Day by doing what you can to care for Indiana’s wildlife. Whether you pick up trash at a park or throw your lead shot in the bin, your help is appreciated in conserving our state’s species.

Recent news releases

LARE applications are due Jan. 15

DNR to stock channel catfish statewide

Indiana deer hunters urged to remember safety tips

Upcoming events

Dec. 4 – Whooper Wednesday, Goose Pond FWA

More

The Indiana Natural Resources Foundation celebrates and preserves Indiana’s natural legacy by raising funds to support the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and its programs. Together, we have helped expand public lands, restore wildlife habitat, and create outdoor educational and recreational opportunities for Hoosiers.