Gasper and Miller combine for 32 as Aces fall to Drake
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EVANSVILLE, Ind. -Â Â Junior Kerri Gasper and redshirt sophomore Marley Miller each poured-in 16 points as the University of Evansville women’s basketball team dropped a 101-50 decision to Drake on Friday night inside Meeks Family Fieldhouse.
“We kind of know the situation that we are in and what we’re up against this weekend playing two really good teams. With the injuries that we had against Indiana State, our backs up against the wall,” said Aces head coach Matt Ruffing. “We have three new players that got one day of practice in and I was excited for them. What an experience getting to play in a division one basketball game. I can’t imagine what their emotions were before the game. I thought our team, for the most part, executed pretty well and did the best that they could.”
Gasper and Miller were the lone two Purple Aces to finish in double-figures with Gasper adding eight rebounds, while junior guard Hannah Noe and junior center Kelsi Scott each added six points each. In her first collegiate appearance, freshman guard Monica Watkins scored two points, picking-up a pair of rebounds, a block, and a steal. For the Bulldogs, six players finished in double-figures led by Sara Rhine who finished with 19 points. Maddy Dean finished just shy of a triple-double for Drake as Dean tallied 13 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists.
The Bulldogs opened the game on a 7-0 run before Gasper hit a three with 6:43 left in the opening quarter. Following Gasper’s three, Drake once again scored seven-straight to open up a 14-3 advantage over the Aces. Trailing 29-5 in the final minute of the period, Scott scored back-to-back layups to trim the Bulldogs advantage to 29-9 at the conclusion of the first quarter.
A 7-0 run to open the quarter pushed Drake’s advantage to 27 at 36-9 before Noe and Gasper drained triples to stop the Bulldogs’ run. The Aces kept pace with Drake for most of the second period as the threes continued to fall with a Miller trifecta with 4:39 left in the quarter. To close the period, the Bulldogs manufactured an 8-0 spree that gave Drake a 58-24 lead at the halftime break.
The run reached 18-0 as the Bulldogs scored 10-straight points to open the second half and push their lead to 68-24. It was Noe again who halted Drake’s run with a triple with 5:58 left in the third quarter. After Gasper scored to trim Drake’s lead to 74-36 in the final minutes of the quarter, the Bulldogs hit three of their last four three-pointers to push their advantage to 83-36 heading into the fourth quarter.
To open the fourth period, Hannah Fuller hit another three for the Bulldogs, increasing Drake’s lead to 50 at 86-36. Midway through the frame, Miller fired a three that missed its mark and was rebounded by Monica Watkins. Watkins went back up following the rebounded and laid it in for her first collegiate points. In the fourth quarter, Miller hit two more three-pointers to bring her total to 16 points on the night. Closing the game, Gasper hit a pair of layups, but each time Drake answered with a basket of their own as the Bulldogs grabbed the 101-50 win.
Drake finished the contest shooting 69.1% (38-55) from the field and 60.6% (20-33) from beyond the arc, while the Aces shot 33.9% (19-56) from the field and 34.6% (9-26) from three-point range.
Evansville concludes the weekend and a three-game homestand on Sunday at 1 p.m. with a matchup with UNI inside Meeks Family Fieldhouse.
Eagles sweep final day at Charger Chillout
Senior first baseman Marleah Fossett (Brownsburg, Indiana) racked up a team-high five RBIs as No. 6 University of Southern Indiana Softball earned a pair of wins to close out the UAH Charger Chillout Friday.
Fossett had the go-ahead RBIs in the Screaming Eagles’ 9-3 win over Midwest Region foe Trevecca Nazarene University in the opener; then erupted for three RBIs in USI’s 6-4 win over Delta State University in the nightcap.
The Eagles (3-1) return to action February 23 when they take on Ferris State University at the Midwest Region Crossover at Deaconess Park in Evansville, Indiana.
Southern Indiana 9, Trevecca Nazarene 3
USI capitalized on a pair of walks to begin the seventh inning en route to a six-run inning and a six-run victory.
The Eagles, who led 3-1 heading into the bottom of the sixth inning, found themselves in a tie game after the Trojans (1-2) scored twice in the frame.
Fossett put the Eagles up 5-3 with her one-out, two-run single in the top of the seventh. Junior outfielder Caitlyn Bradley (Forest, Indiana), who homered earlier to give the Eagles their third score, pushed another run across with an RBI-single to make it 6-3.
A two-run single by junior catcher Lindsey Barr (Whitesville, Kentucky) gave USI an 8-3 lead, while sophomore shortstop Taylor Ricketts (Georgetown, Kentucky) finished the scoring with an RBI-single to give the Eagles and sophomore hurler Jennifer Leonhardt (Louisville, Kentucky) the cozy six-run cushion.
Earlier in the contest, sophomore outfielder Allison Schubert (Nicholasville, Kentucky) had a two-run double in the top of the first to give USI a 2-0 advantage; while Bradley’s solo shot in the fourth was the Eagles’ first long ball of the year.
Leonhardt (2-0) earned the win for the Eagles after giving up three runs off seven hits in seven innings of work. She recorded five strikeouts and just one walk in the victory.
Southern Indiana 6, Delta State 4
USI scored runs in the last half of the fifth and sixth innings to overcome a Delta State surge and come away with its third straight win.
After Delta State (3-6) scored runs in the third and fifth innings to even the contest at 4-4, Bradley had a sacrifice fly to push across the go-ahead run in the bottom of the fifth inning. Junior second baseman Claire Johnson (Pittsboro, Indiana) tripled to lead off the sixth frame before a sacrifice fly by Fossett gave the Eagles an insurance run.
The Eagles rallied from a 2-0 deficit after the Lady Statesmen capitalized on a USI error to score twice in the top of the second inning. Johnson and senior outfielder Olivia Clark-Kittleson(Carbondale, Illinois) each had RBI-singles to tie the contest, while Fossett’s two-run single capped off a four-run second frame that put the Eagles in front, 4-2.
Junior pitcher Courtney Atkisson (Bringhurst, Indiana) earned the win for the Eagles. Atkisson (1-0) allowed just one hit and one walk in 2.2 innings of relief work to earn her first decision of the season.
Teacher Arrested after Allegations of Child Molestation
The Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a local teacher on charges of Child Molesting. The arrest was the result of an investigation by the Sheriff’s Office following a complaint by the parent of a victim, who is a child under the age of 10.
The alleged incidents occurred over the last three weeks in a third grade classroom at Scott School in northern Vanderburgh County. A parent advised that their child told them about being touched inappropriately during class time by a teacher, who was identified as Mr. Justin Wolf. The parents immediately contacted the Sheriff’s Office, which began an investigation. A forensic interview of the child was conducted at Holly’s House and the child disclosed three incidents in which Mr. Wolf allegedly fondled the victim’s genitals.
Mr. Wolf was interviewed by detectives with the Sheriff’s Office this afternoon and apologized for his actions. Mr. Wolf was arrested on three (3) counts of Child Molesting and is being held in the Vanderburgh County Jail pending an initial court appearance.
The investigation is ongoing and being conducted with assistance from the Child Protective Services (CPS) division of the Indiana Department of Child Services.
Parents with questions or concerns are invited to attend a meeting at the Sheriff’s Office Jail and Administration building on Saturday, February 10, 2018 at 3:00 PM. Parents will be given information regarding how best to speak to their child regarding issues of sexual abuse and will have the opportunity to have their questions answered by a Sheriff’s Office detective.
Justin Joseph Wolf (pictured above), 25, of Evansville. Child Molesting as a Level 4 Felony (3 counts)
Presumption of Innocence Notice: The fact that a person has been arrested or charged with a crime is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.
“READER FORUM” FEBRUARY 10, 2018
WHATS ON YOUR MIND TODAY?
University of Evansville Theatre’s 50th Anniversary Season 
Continues with Free Tickets for All High School Students
The University of Evansville Department of Theatre has announced that all high school students can receive free tickets to remaining performances of the Shanklin Theatre 50th Anniversary Season. Made possible by a generous grant from the Arts Council of Southwestern Indiana, this offer includes tickets to Sense and Sensibility by Kate Hamill and The Grapes of Wrath by Frank Galati.
A story of reputation, redemption, and romance, Sense and Sensibility is a fresh and witty take on the Jane Austen story audiences know and love. When the Dashwood sisters find themselves at the bottom of the social food chain, the quest to claw their way back to the top consumes them. High society and wicked gossip collide in a whirlwind of scandal and passion and betrayal. The play opens Friday Feb. 16, at 7:30 p.m. Additional performances are at 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 17, 22, 23, 24, and at 2:00 p.m. on Feb. 18 and 25.
The Tony Award-winning play, The Grapes of Wrath, is an expansive retelling of John Steinbeck’s brilliant Pulitzer Prize-winning novel. The riveting tale follows the harrowing journey of the impoverished Joad family and their desperate flight from drought-ridden Oklahoma to the land of milk and honey in California. Uncompromising faith carries the family through heartbreaking loss in an epic celebration of the tenacity of the human spirit. The play opens Friday April 13, at 7:30 p.m. Additional performances are at 7:30 p.m. on April 14, 19, 20, 21, and at 2:00 p.m. on April 15 and 22.
High school students can pick up their free tickets by going to the UE Theatre Ticket Office Monday-Friday, noon-5:00 p.m. Regular ticket prices are $18 for adults, and $16 for senior adults, and UE faculty and staff. UE students may obtain one free student rush ticket beginning at noon on the day of the performance they wish to attend. Tickets may be purchased over the phone by calling 812-488–2031.
International Food Expo To Feature Diverse Food, Entertainment
The International Club at the University of Southern Indiana will host the annual International Food Expo from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, February 16 in Carter Hall, located in University Center West. The International Food Expo is an opportunity for USI’s international students to share the cultural diversity, customs and cuisine of their home country with the USI community and the public.
In addition to dishes from around the world, entertainment will include African dances, drumming and other musical performances, as well as a fashion show of traditional, cultural attire.
Tickets can be purchased in advance for $10 from the Center for International Programs Office in the University Center East, Room 1235, or at the door on the day of the Expo for $15. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to a local charity.
For additional information, contact Nicole Vernon at nmvernon@usi.edu or 812-228-5092.
ACTUALLY, THINGS ARE PRETTY GOOD AND GETTING BETTER
By Tom Purcel
“The country is divided. The political rhetoric is getting worse. The world seems to be a mess.â€
“Relax, my friend. If you step back from the noise and emotion, you’ll realize things are pretty good.â€
“Pretty good? Democrats and Republicans are fighting like cats and dogs. Half the countrysides with one party as it demonizes the other. President Trump calls Democrats in Congress nasty names as Democrats call him even nastier names.â€
“That is regrettably true. The political hyperbole is awfully intense. But, believe it or not, it has been worse. Google the name-calling Thomas Jefferson and John Adams used against each other during the presidential campaign of 1800!â€
“But the rich are getting richer, thanks to Trump’s tax plan!â€
“Ah, more hyperbole from politicians. Look, thanks to the recent tax-system overhaul, corporate taxes have been reduced and U.S.-based companies doing business overseas are bringing billions in overseas profits back to America. Combined with Trump’s undoing of hundreds of overzealous regulations that have been inhibiting investment and growth, the economy is booming.â€
“But Democrats in Congress are saying that average guys like me will end up with crumbs at the expense of the fat cats.â€
“The truth is that, because of tax reform, many companies are giving employees bonuses and pay raises. They are announcing plans for new plants and hiring thousands more Americans. And have you looked at your paycheck recently? Now that the new tax-cut rules are active, the vast majority of workers are seeing a decent bump in take-home pay. A thousand bucks or two is more than crumbs.â€
“But socialism is on the rise. Look at the younger generations in America who, surveys show, think capitalism is bad.â€
“We’ll see how so many Bernie Sanders supporters respond to a robust American economy that produces good-paying jobs that will finally allow them to move out of Mom and Dad’s basement. Meanwhile, capitalism and democracy have been spreading across the globe in recent years. Latin America, the Philippines, Indonesia and almost all of East Asia are democratic.â€
“Which benefits them how?â€
“According to philosopher Michael Novak, ‘capitalism better helps the poor to escape from poverty than any other system. … (C)capitalism is a necessary condition for the actual success of democracy.’ You see, as the world flourishes economically, millions will have better lives.â€
“But North Korea has gone rogue with its missiles. The Middle East is a powder keg. Terrorist incidents are increasing around the world. We’re all doomed.â€
“Sure, we have challenges in North Korea, unrest in the Middle East and global terrorism. There is always some kind of evil in our fast-changing world trying to rear its ugly head ‒ Nazism, communism, totalitarianism, a rogue dictator somewhere. We’ve successfully faced such challenges before. I’m confident our best strategic thinkers will have the wisdom to do so again.â€
“But as the baby-boom generation ages, how are we going to pay for Social Security and Medicare and other rapidly growing entitlements?â€
“By applying the creativity and innovation that former communist countries are using. Slovakia is funding retirement through personal savings accounts, a simple concept that has proved to be very effective in other parts of the world. With robust economic growth and creative leadership, we can solve our problems in America.â€
“But our culture is in decline. Look at the garbage on television and the web.â€
“But this is really a sign that our culture fully embraces freedom ‒ real, genuine openness. Freedom opens the floodgates to everything that is bad in the human heart, an abundance of which is available through technology, but it also opens the floodgates to everything that is good.â€
“How can you be so optimistic with so many things going so wrong?â€
“How can you be so pessimistic about so many things going so right? In a relatively short time, the American experiment has unleashed the most productive, energetic, prosperous nation in the history of mankind. It has created a gregarious and generous people, and the countries that emulate its ideals are beginning to enjoy the physical, mental and spiritual prosperity that is the envy of the world. The fact is, things are pretty good in the world and going to get better!â€
FOOTNOTE: This article is posted by the CCO without bias, opinion or editing. Â We this article will provoke honest and open dialogue concerning issues that we, as responsible citizens of this community, need to address in a rational and responsible way?