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Jordan sets school record at GVSU Big Meet

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Allendale, Mich. – VU sophomore sprinter Desroy Jordan has already earned several spots in the Trailblazers Track and Field record books, now holding five school records after setting a program best time in the 600 meters Friday at the Grand Valley State University Big Meet in Michigan.

Jordan was a member of the Indoor 4×800 and DMR relay teams that set school records last year and set two individual school records during the 2023 Outdoor season in the 200 meters and 400 meters.

Jordan’s performance was a highlight of a very busy weekend which saw the Blazers add four more National qualifiers.

The Trailblazers got off to a very quick start to the weekend Friday with Jordan placing second overall in the 600 meters with a time of 1:18.21.

Jordan was joined in the 600 meters by sophomore Matthew Gray (Washington, Ind.) and freshman Zion Pruitt.

Gray placed 37th overall with a time of 1:26.46 and Pruitt placed 47th at 1:30.84.

Jordan, obviously, surpassed the qualifying mark for the NJCAA Indoor Nationals in the 600 meters.

Freshman sprinters Tumaini Skinner and Olamipo Ladipo were the next best VU men’s finishers Friday, with Skinner placing eighth in the 200 meters with a time of 22.34 seconds with Ladipo close behind at 22.60 seconds, placing him 12th.

Sophomore Cohen Gallant placed 21st in the 60 meter sprint with a time of 6.99 seconds, while freshman Clinton Laguerre placed 25th in the 400 meters at 51.63 seconds.

The VU men’s day on the track was rounded out by sophomore Isaac Stanford (Flora, Ill.) who finished 18th in the mile run with a time of 4:15.19, qualifying him for Nationals and freshman Cody Noel (Hebron, Ind.) who finished 13th in his heat of the 5000 meters with a time of 15:50.35.

The VU men’s team returned to the track on Saturday and were headlined by another National qualifier in the Distance Medley Relay team of Brahym Sakka, Desroy Jordan, Isaac Stanford and Clinton Laguerre who placed 17th overall with a time of 10:13.73.

Sophomore Olegs Kozjakovs placed 10th in the shot put with a throw of 14.09 meters and later competed in the 60 meter hurdles, placing 15th with a time of 8.94 seconds.

Freshman Brahym Sakka (Tunisia) would also compete in the mile, finishing 21st overall with a time of 4:25.40.

Clinton Laguerre, along with Zion Pruitt and Cohen Gallant each competed in the 200 meter dash, with Pruitt placing 23rd at 22.69, Laguerre coming in 26th at 22.79 and Gallant placing 41st with a time of 23.11 seconds.

Freshmen Bryaun Manuel (East St. Louis, Ill.), Tanner Spence (Carmi, Ill.) and sophomore Matthew Gray were in the 800 meters, with Manuel finishing 38th at 2:00.00, Spence close behind at 2:00.25 in 39th and Gray placing 49th at 2:02.94.

The VU men’s weekend came to a close with freshmen Caden Hostetler (LaGrange, Ind.) and Nathan Whitehead (Vincennes, Ind.) competing in the 3000 meters. Hostetler posted a time of 9:02.76 for 51st overall, while Whitehead checked in at 9:36.58 for 80th overall.

“It was a full weekend of track and field at Grand Valley State,” VU Head Track and Field Coach Marty Rogier said. “I thought we had a good effort from everyone but especially the distance crew. They really stepped up and are really starting to run well at the right time.”

“We added four more National Qualifiers over the weekend in the 600 meters, mile and men’s and women’s DMR,” Rogier added. “That brings our total to nine on the men’s side, five of those are top 10 and three on the women’s side, with two of those in the top 10. We have one meet left and I think we might get a couple more.”

“Desroy continued his outstanding season on Friday by breaking the VU school record in the 600 with a very fast 1:18,” Rogier said. “That has him ranked fourth in the Nation. He ran a solid race in only his second time running at that distance. I believe he can take that even lower.”

“This weekend was very exciting,” VU Assistant Coach and Distance Coach Tyler Steigenga said. “Grand Valley State has one of the best atmospheres for track in the Nation and this is their most competitive meet of the year.”

“On the distance side, we got off to a good start Friday with Cody PRing in the 5k,” Steigenga added. “Later that day, Matthew ran the 600 in a three second PR. Isaac ran a very gutsy race to get another National qualifier in the mile.”

“Saturday morning Caden and Nathan got us started in the 3000 meters,” Steigenga said. “Caden ran great and almost broke the nine minute barrier at 9:02. Nathan ran in the heat after him and did well in his first attempt at that distance.”

“Three men also ran well in the 800 meters distance,” Steigenga added. “Tanner and Bryaun narrowly missed getting under the two minute barrio in their heat, with Bryaun running exactly two minutes. Matthew ran a season’s best in his heat.”

“Brahym finished off the night with a solid run in the mile after running a great 1200 meter leg of the DMR earlier in the day,” Steigenga said.

The VU women’s team weekend got off to a very good start with freshman vaulter Sophia Amaral being the only VU women’s athlete competing Friday and setting the tone by placing fifth in the pole vault after clearing a height of 4.02 meters.

The women’s team kept this momentum going on Saturday with the Distance Medley Relay team of Emilly Barbosa, Jasmyn Self (Casey, Ill.), Adi Fuller and Zinzile Gumpo qualifying for Nationals with a time of 12:56.84, good for 19th overall.

Freshmen Emilly Barbosa (Sao Paulo, Brazil), Adi Fuller (Evansville, Ind.) and Grayson Haynes (Sebree, Ky.) would then compete in the 800 meters, with Barbosa leading the pack with a time of 2:22.57 finishing 28th overall. Fuller crossed the line at 2:33.40 for 53rd overall and Haynes placed 67th with a time of 2:50.34.

USI’s early momentum comes up short against SLU

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EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Women’s Tennis (1-4) struggled against Saint Louis University (2-0), falling to the Billikens, 4-1, at the Evansville Tennis Center Sunday afternoon.
 
Doubles: The Screaming Eagles found some success in doubles play with the freshmen combination of Sofia Davidoff (Lagny-sur-Marne, France)/Antonia Ferrarini (Caxias do Sul, Brazil) earning a 6-3 victory at number two. This is the third match the duo has partnered together and the first win of the season.
 
Singles: Senior Lauren Rowe (Terre Haute, Indiana) picked up USI’s lone singles win. At number two, Rowe took down her opponent in tiebreaking fashion (6-1, 3-6, 7-5). This marks her second dual singles win of the season.

USI runs away with Homecoming win Eagles sizzle the nets with best shooting night of the season

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EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Men’s Basketball blistered the nets in the second half and flew by Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, 84-67, on Homecoming Saturday in Screaming Eagles Arena. The Screaming Eagles rise to 7-18 overall and 4-8 in OVC play, while the Cougars are 13-12 overall, 6-6 OVC.

With the win, USI moves back into eighth in the league and the race to secure a spot in the OVC Tournament in March.  The Eagles have a one game lead over Southeast Missouri State University, Tennessee Tech University, and Lindenwood University with six games to play in the 2023-24 season.

The top eight teams at the end of OVC play advance to the league tournament March 6-9 at the Ford Center in Evansville. USI has four games on the road before host the final weekend before the conference tournament.

The Eagles scored seven of the first nine points of the contest and had a 7-2 lead to start the game. SIUE would shrink the early USI lead as the Eagles and the Cougars traded baskets and mini offensive runs through most of the first half.

USI overcame a five-point deficit with 4:01 until halftime and took a 33-31 lead with a 9-2 run. Sophomore guard Jack Campion (Milton, Wisconsin) led USI through the dash with four of the nine points.

Eagles’ sophomore guard/forward AJ Smith (Edwardsville, Illinois) extended the run to 13-2 with a pair of free throws and a thunderous dunk to end the half, sending USI into the locker room with a 37-31 lead. Smith finished the opening half with 11 points and 10 rebound to record his 11th double-double of the season.

Smith continued the USI surge into the second half, hitting the first bucket to extend the run to 15-2 and a 39-31 advantage. The Eagles would increase the lead to as many as nine points three times in the first seven minutes of the final half.

USI would take a commanding lead at the 8:00 mark, 65-46, with a 12-1 run on a pair of three-pointers by junior forward Jack Mielke (Downers Grove, Illinois), a three from sophomore guard Ryan Hall (Kettering, Ohio) and an old fashioned three-point play by junior guard Jeremiah Hernandez (Chicago, Illinois). The lead would grow to a game-high 21, 81-59, with 1:55 to play on back-to-back three-pointers by Mielke and Hall and a free throw by junior guard Sam Mervis (Indianapolis, Indiana).

The Cougars cut the USI margin under 20 in the final minute before the Eagles sealed the 84-67 Homecoming victory.

In the game, USI was dominating offensively over the two halves. The Eagles posted a season-high 58.7 percent from the field (27-46), while shooting a blistering 66.7 percent from the outside (16-24) and beyond the arc (8-12) in the second half.

In the scoring column, Smith finished with a game-high 17 points and 12 rebounds. The sophomore was a red-hot six-of-nine from the field, including a pair of three-pointers, and three-of-four from the stripe.

Mielke and Hernandez followed with 15 points each, while Campion rounded out he double-figure scorers with 13 points. Mielke was a blistering five-of-six from downtown, including four-of-four in the second half.

Next Up For USI:
USI will be on the road for the next four games beginning Thursday when it visits the University of Tennessee at Martin in Martin, Tennessee, for an 8 p.m. contest. The Eagles finish the first half of the road trip February 17 when a visit to the University of Arkansas at Little Rock for a 3:30 p.m. tip in Little Rock, Arkansas.

The Skyhawks of UTM rose to 15-10 overall, 8-4 OVC, with a 62-59 win at Western Illinois University Saturday. UTM, which is in a three-way tie for second in the OVC, has won five of its last six games following the matchup with WIU and splitting last week.

UTM leads the all-time series with USI, 5-4, after a season split between the two teams last year. The Eagles took the opening game last year, 80-66, at Screaming Eagles Arena, while the Skyhawks won in Martin, 86-83, in overtime.

The Little Rock Trojans are 14-11 overall and 8-4 in the OVC after taking its only game of this week, winning at Western Illinois University, 63-60. Little Rock, which hosts Morehead State University Thursday before welcoming USI, enters next week’s action on a three-game winning streak and has won six of the last seven. The six of the last seven stretch started with USI on January 18.

USI, which has a 2-1 series lead over the Trojans, lost the opening game of the 2023-24 series with Little Rock,77-75, in a game that came down to the final seconds and possessions. USI junior guard Jeremiah Hernandez led the Eagles in the loss with 28 points, while junior forward Jack Mielke and junior guard/forward Javius Moore (McComb, Mississippi) followed with 17 points and 15 points, respectively.

SPADAFORE, BRITTON SCORE FIRST GOALS IN 4-2 LOSS AT BULLS

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Pelham, Ala.:  Despite having plenty of positives to take out of the game and the weekend, the Thunderbolts were forced to settle for a split of the weekend series against the Bulls, as Evansville fell 4-2 in Pelham on Saturday night.   The Thunderbolts’ next home game will be on Wednesday, February 14th against the Quad City Storm, puck drop at 7:00pm CT.

 

The Bulls grabbed the lead early as Scott Donahue scored 1:06 into the first period.  In the second period’s opening minute, Carson Rose made it 2-0 Bulls with a power play goal.  Evansville got one back later in the period as Jordan Spadafore scored his first professional goal at 14:17 from Brendan Harrogate and Nick Prestia.  However, penalties haunted Evansville in the second period, and the Bulls got the two goal lead back as MacGregor Sinclair scored a power play goal to make it 3-1 Birmingham at 16:33.  In the third period, Evansville pressed on several power play chances but could not find the back of the net for most of the way, before Rose scored again for the Bulls on a breakaway fresh from the penalty box at 13:04 to make it a 4-1 game.  In one final positive, Evansville scored a power play goal with 5 seconds left in the game, as Kenny Britton scored his first professional goal at 19:55 from Aiden Wagner and Matt Dorsey to conclude the scoring at 4-2 Birmingham.

 

Spadafore and Britton picked up Evansville’s goals, while Brendahn Brawley finished in goal with 40 saves on 44 shots.  The Thunderbolts and Bulls meet again on Monday, February 19th at Pelham Civic Complex.

 

Vanderburgh County Recent Booking Records

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MAYOR
MAYOR

Booked Last 24 Hours-Public

ECHO Housing & House of Bread and Peace Consolidating

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 It is with great excitement that the leadership teams of ECHO Housing & Community Development and the House of Bread and Peace (The House) announce that the two nonprofit organizations will be consolidating to strengthen the work of The House and to ensure its continued operations for generations to come. 

Both ECHO Housing and the House of Bread and Peace share the mission of serving the most vulnerable individuals and families in the Evansville community. 

Therefore, the House of Bread and Peace entered an Interim Management Agreement with ECHO Housing, effective January 8, 2024. During this Interim Agreement, both parties will take the appropriate steps to combine the agencies under the umbrella of ECHO Housing. The purpose of this agreement is to allow The House to continue operating as it has been, in the spirit of Sister Joanna Trainer’s legacy, while being supported by ECHO Housing’s leadership and infrastructure. 

ECHO Housing’s Social Services Director, Sarah Wolf, previously served as the Executive Director of the House of Bread and Peace for 18 years. Sarah reflects on her time at The House and how her work there shaped her career: “I first met Sister Joanna at the House of Bread and Peace as a young Social Work intern in 1994. Not only am I grateful for the opportunity to call Sister my friend for many years, what I learned about uncondition 

caring for those in need has been woven into the framework of my entire career. It is truly a blessing to have a role once again in Sister’s mission by overseeing the services the residents receive while staying at the House.” 

House of Bread and Peace Board President, Lawanda Kirsch states, “The Board of Directors appreciates the importance of The House in our community. The intent of our decision is to avoid a negative impact on those we serve in Evansville. This strategic collaboration marks a significant milestone in the pursuit of our shared mission to end homelessness within the community. The union of the House of Bread and Peace to ECHO Housing combines our strengths resources, and expertise to maximize the impact of service to women and children. This merger is a testament to Sister Joanna’s legacy and her vision of service to those in need. We look forward to embarking on this new chapter, creating a stronger, more impactful program in service to the community.” 

ECHO Housing’s CEO, Savannah Wood, comments, “We are honored that the House of Bread and Peace is entrusting this critical service to our agency. This occasion signifies a pivotal step forward in our commitment to serving our community and advancing our mission. By providing services through the entire housing continuum – from emergency shelter to permanent housing placement – ECHO Housing will be able to deliver more comprehensive and effective services to our community, allowing us to foster innovation and creativity in our approach to tackling the challenges of homelessness. Our agency will continue to work closely with the House of Bread and Peace Board of Directors to ensure the administrative transition takes place without any hindrance or changes to The House’s role in the community.” 

The House’s deep-rooted legacy of providing emergency shelter to women and children who are experiencing homelessness will remain unchanged in its current location, 250 E. Chandler, and will maintain staffing 24/7. Any women and children seeking emergency shelter placement can contact 812-423-8422 or email info@echohousing.org. 

The House of Bread and Peace is a designated non-profit 501(c)(3) organization with a mission to provide for the basic needs of homeless women and children while assisting the women in becoming independent and self-sufficient. We help them build a strong foundation for a more successful life by identifying and addressing their individual needs and goals. Since it’s opening in 1985, House of Bread and Peace and the legacy of Sister Joanna Trainer have been providing a warm bed, hot food, and the opportunity for a new life to women and children in the Evansville area. 

ECHO Housing Corporation is a designated non-profit 501(c)(3) Community Development Corporation (CDC) with a mission to improve lives by reducing barriers to housing, social wellbeing, and economic opportunity. Since its founding, ECHO Housing and Community Development has been a leading provider of homeless services, including permanent supportive housing, for individuals experiencing homelessness in the community. ECHO has continued to grow, now encompassing seven homeless service programs, all dedicated to serving those experiencing homelessness or housing instability. In 2024, ECHO will add an 8th homeless service program – the Promise Home, a permanent supportive housing program dedicated to serving the chronically homeless in Region 12. 

Additional Media Contacts: 

Kim Armstrong 

ECHO Housing Marketing and Communications Manager 

Kim.armstrong

Hoosier History Highlights

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February 11 – February 17

This Week in Indiana History
Jewell February 11, 1936 Fred Jewell died in his hometown of Worthington, Indiana. He was conductor of the Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey circus band. A prolific composer, he became known as “Indiana’s March King.” In later years he returned to Worthington to conduct the high school band as well as the Murat Temple and Sahara Grotto bands in Indianapolis.

The iconic LOVE image was created by New Castle born, Robert Indiana. The original design was created in 1964 for cards Indiana gave to his friends.

Robert Indiana
Abe Lincoln February 11, 1861 Abraham Lincoln woke up on February 12, his 52nd birthday, at the Bates House Hotel in Indianapolis. He had breakfast with Governor Oliver P. Morton before boarding a train to continue his trip to Washington where he would take the oath to become the 16th President.
February 14, 1913 Jimmy Hoffa, Union leader of the Teamsters, ties to organized crime, born in Brazil, IN. Hoffa disappeared in 1975. Hoffa
Florence Henderson February 14, 1934 Florence Henderson, actress, “Carol” in “The Brady Bunch”, born in Dale, IN.

Our Where in Indiana? from last week was taken in Indianapolis at Lucas Oil Stadium.

Lucas Oil  

Where in Indiana?

Do you know where this photograph was taken?

Visit us on Instagram to submit your answer.

Feb 11

Follow us on Instagram: @instatehousetouroffice

Indiana Statehouse Tour Office

Indiana Department of Administration

Guided Tours of the Indiana Statehouse are offered Monday through Saturday.  For more information, contact us.

(317) 233-5293
Estanley@idoa.in.gov

Statehouse Virtual Tour

What do these Valentines have to do with Indiana?

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For more activities

             in IN

https://www.visitindiana.com/

Answers

1. The official Indiana state snack is Indiana grown popcorn.

2. The official Indiana state insect is the Sey’s Firefly.

3. Indiana is known as the automobile racing capital of the world.

4. In 1917 the first tomato juice was served at French Lick Springs Hotel in Orange County. When Chef Louis Perin ran out of orange juice, he created tomato juice.

Indiana Grown Symposium welcomes all

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USDA-NRCS Baltimore County Soil Conservationist Sam Engle visits Warren Blue at The Greener Garden Urban Farm LLC, in Baltimore, Md., July 26, 2021. With USDA money, Blue has installed several hoop houses and recently installed a water meter, irrigation pipeline, and micro irrigation system through the Agricultural Management Assistance (AMA) program that helps agricultural producers manage financial risk. USDA/FPAC Photo by Preston Keres

INDIANAPOLIS (Feb. 7, 2024) – Indiana Grown, the Indiana State Department of Agriculture’slocal marketing initiative, will be hosting a day-long conference focused on educational seminars for Indiana Grown members, Indiana agritourism operators and food based businesses.

The event is March 19, 2024, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Hendricks County Fairgrounds (1900 E. Main St., Danville, IN 46122). Registration is $45 and includes a continental breakfast and lunch. Interested businesses and Indiana Grown members can register for the event at indianagrown.org.

Organizations and businesses interested in being trade show vendors or a sponsors can find those opportunities at indianagrown.org.

“This event is a great resource to all those who are interested in agriculture and agritourism,” said Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch, Indiana’s Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development. “This symposium offers a wide range of informational sessions and networking to everyone involved in agriculture who might be looking to become an agricultural destination.”

Attendees will also have the opportunity to speak with and learn from industry professionals on a multitude of topics, such as social media, farm finances, operator liabilities, hiring and training employees, succession planning, event planning, zoning and insurance, building relationships with distributors, determining your product pricing and more. There will also be a panel discussion and a trade show opportunity for attendees to meet with vendors.

New to 2024, businesses do not have to be an Indiana Grown member to attend.

Attendees could include small agribusinesses looking to expand their products into new markets, agribusinesses interested in social media and marketing expertise, agritourism operations who would like to expand their on-farm attractions, creating a memorable guest experience, farm to table events and much more.

“Indiana Grown is thrilled to be hosting our third Indiana Grown Symposium and to be opening this event to all business owners looking for support as they continue to expand their businesses,” said Caroline Patrick, Indiana Grown Director. “This is a great opportunity to connect with experts from over 30 different business and agritourism topics, interact with Indiana Grown members and learn what the Indiana Grown program has to offer. This is a one-of-a-kind event for Hoosier businesses, and we are so excited to gather our members for continued learning and networking.”

Featured speakers include:

  • Lt. Governor Crouch, Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development
  • Don Lamb, ISDA Director
  • Suzi Spahr, NAFDMA (Indianapolis)
  • Krista Stillwell, Stillwell + Co (Frankfort)
  • Terry & Courtney Engstrand, White Oaks Bison Farm (Rochester)
  • Dr. Cheryl Miller, Indiana Board of Animal Health
  • Polly Dobbs, Dobbs & Foltz (Peru)
  • Dr. Ariana Torres, Purdue University
  • Sharon Pattee, Indiana Department of Health
  • Brianna Schroeder, Janzen Ag Law (Indianapolis)
  • Kirsty Kikly, Redbud Farms (Spiceland)
  • Spencer Guinn, Kentucky Center for Agriculture and Rural Development (KY)
  • Janice Lee & Dave Hosick, Indiana Department of Homeland Security
  • Jim Cockrum, Silent Jim – E-Commerce (Greenwood)
  • Ruth Ann Roney, Tuttle’s Orchard (Greenfield)
  • Anna Whelchel, Indiana State Fairgrounds and Event Center
  • Chef Jeff Bricker, Ivy Tech Community College
  • Jessica Pontius, Daniel’s Vinyard (McCordsville)
  • Allie Rieth, American Dairy Association of Indiana
  • Dana Dull, Dull’s Tree Farm (Thorntown)
  • Beth & Tim Sheets, Heritage Farm & Events (Flora)
  • Jordan Pierce, Stuckey Farm Orchard and Cider Mill (Sheridan)
  • Liz Brownlee, Partners in food and farming (Columbus)
  • Craig Lindauer, Lindauer and Sons Dairy Farm (Ferdinand)

Including representatives from:

  • Indiana State Department of Agriculture
  • Indiana Farm Bureau
  • Indiana Small Business Development Corporation
  • Indiana Destination Development Corporation
  • MacFarland PR
  • Veterans IN Farming
  • USDA – GAP Certification Leads
  • RJL Solutions (Terre Haute)
  • Indiana Grown for Schools
  • FEMI
  • Fairs and Festivals
  • Farm Service Agency
  • Optiviz Media
  • Indiana Produce Safety

Southern Indiana Dance Marathon returns March 23

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Southern Indiana Dance Marathon (SIDM) will return to the University of Southern Indiana for its 12th year on Saturday, March 23 in Carter Hall, located in University Center West. Participants will be on their feet for 12 hours straight to raise money and awareness for Riley Hospital for Children. This year’s event will begin at noon Saturday, March 23 and continue until midnight Sunday, March 24.

SIDM is seeking support to meet its $50,000 fundraising goal. All funds raised benefit the Riley Children’s Foundation to support groundbreaking pediatric research, patient programs in need of additional funding, Riley Maternity and Newborn Health and family support programs, such as child life and social work.

“Southern Indiana Dance Marathon is an amazing organization that raises money for Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis,” says Delaney Radican ’25, education major. “Riley is near and dear to my heart. I’ve been a part of this organization for the last three years. The money that is raised at our Dance Marathon can help a child in need.”

Radican and Marcus Robinson ’25 are leading this year’s event as SIDM Co-Presidents. Robinson and his twin brother, Brady, both juniors in the USI Nursing Program, have a special reason to be involved with Riley Hospital. Born prematurely, Brady suffered a brain bleed when he was only 14 months old. “After being rushed to Riley, they soon realized that I needed to undergo brain surgery,” he says. “I was diagnosed with hydrocephalus, which is excess fluid on the brain that leads to swelling and increased pressure.”

Brady said the neurosurgeon placed a shunt that helps drain fluid from his brain into his stomach. “Since the initial placement, I have undergone four additional surgeries at Riley. I was also diagnosed with stage 3 chronic kidney disease, and I see a nephrologist at Riley to monitor my kidney functions,” he says. “Riley gives so many kids like me a second shot at life, and that is why I am a member of this year’s Southern Indiana Dance Marathon executive board.”

USI students can get involved by registering to attend the 12-hour event. Registration is $25 and includes event entry and snacks/meals for the day.

SIDM is currently seeking sponsors for custom T-shirts that participants and volunteers will wear during the Dance Marathon. This sponsorship will not go directly to Riley Hospital but will support the student organization raising funds for Riley. Businesses and individuals unable to sponsor the shirts but interested in supporting Southern Indiana Dance Marathon at any level may do so by directing their funds to the University of Southern Indiana Foundation (please make notation of SIDM).

Each year, local Riley families attend the Dance Marathon to share their Riley experience with the USI students. Contact one of the SIDM Co-Presidents at mtrobinson@eagles.usi.edu or kdradican@eagles.usi.edu if you know a Riley family who would like to be involved.

USI Women’s Basketball clinches OVC Tournament berth with win over SIUE

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EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Women’s Basketball clinched its first-ever Ohio Valley Conference Tournament berth inside Screaming Eagles Arena on Saturday night behind a 75-58 victory against Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.

After missing out on the OVC’s postseason field of eight last season due to a tiebreaker, Southern Indiana became the first OVC program to claim its spot this season with its league-leading 11-1 conference record. Saturday’s win pushed USI’s overall record to 16-6. Following Saturday’s results, USI holds a three-game first-place lead in the conference standings. Additionally, Southern Indiana swept its pair of home games this week, marking the sixth OVC weekly sweep for the Eagles this season.

Saturday was Homecoming and Hall of Fame Night at Screaming Eagles Arena, and on an evening of celebration and welcoming back alumni, Southern Indiana got its largest crowd of the season of over 2,000 fans excited right away. USI started the game with back-to-back three-pointers within the first minute of action. USI led 8-0 before SIUE got on the scoreboard. Senior forward Meredith Raley (Haubstadt, Indiana) had a fast start for the Screaming Eagles, scoring seven of USI’s first 10 points. The offense then cooled as the Eagles led 12-4 with 4:30 left on the clock in the opening quarter. Southern Indiana grabbed an 18-12 lead at the end of the first quarter off a buzzer-beating jumper by junior guard Vanessa Shafford (Linton, Indiana).

Defenses continued to make things tough for both offenses in the early minutes of the second period. However, Southern Indiana got the offense rolling by using its size advantage inside to add to its lead. Raley reached the 10-point mark just 13 minutes into the first half. Shafford drained a jumper to put USI up by double digits, 25-14, three minutes into the second quarter. Southern Indiana produced two double-figure runs that allowed the Screaming Eagles to build a sizable lead. Freshman forward Chloe Gannon (Manchester, Tennessee) paced the charge by the Eagles with 10 second-quarter points, as USI outscored the Cougars 23-9 and shot nearly 70 percent in the second frame to take a 41-21 halftime advantage.

Out of the intermission, it took nearly four minutes for Southern Indiana to find the bottom of the net, but back-to-back triples did the trick. Sophomore guard Ali Saunders (Depauw, Indiana) drained one of the treys before stroking through a mid-range jumper to give USI a 21-point lead, 49-28, midway into the third quarter. The Screaming Eagles tacked on to their lead with another pair of threes from Saunders and graduate guard Tori Handley (Jeffersonville, Indiana). Southern Indiana’s defense also remained tough, as USI held SIUE to 3-15 for 20 percent shooting for the third straight quarter. The Eagles carried a 59-31 lead to the fourth stanza.

In the first portion of the fourth quarter, Saunders canned another three, while Gannon added to her solid game. Gannon reached 18 points in the fourth, matching a career best. Southern Indiana led by more than 30 in the middle of the period, but the Cougars did not go quietly. SIUE shot for 60 percent and connected five times from long range in the fourth.

For the game, Southern Indiana was 28-59 for 47 percent shooting, knocking down eight threes. USI was also 11-15 for 73 percent at the foul line. The Screaming Eagles had 36 bench points and won the rebounding battle, 39-36. Gannon paced USI with 18 points, and Saunders finished with 13 points on a perfect 5-5 shooting night and 3-3 from beyond the arc. Shafford tallied nine points with 11 rebounds. Shafford had scored 10 or more in the previous 19 games. Raley chipped in 10 points in the game Saturday.

SIUE (4-21, 1-11) was held by Southern Indiana’s defense to only 30 percent shooting (18-60) with seven triples. The Cougars did go a perfect 15-15 at the free-throw stripe. SIUE had three players score in double figures.

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