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USI Women’s Basketball gets back on track behind Raley’s career-high 29 points at SEMO

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USI Women’s Basketball gets back on track behind Raley’s career-high 29 points at SEMO

Shafford ties program’s three-point record on Thursday

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – University of Southern Indiana Women’s Basketball got back on track Thursday night behind a career-high 29 points from graduate forward Meredith Raley to earn a 93-69 road victory against Southeast Missouri State University.

The road win did not come easy for the Screaming Eagles. Southern Indiana registered its largest comeback win of the season after trailing by 12 points late in the opening quarter. USI put together three strong quarters to finish the game to improve to 12-4 on the campaign and 4-1 in the Ohio Valley Conference, grouping the Eagles in a three-way tie for second in the league. Southeast Missouri dropped to 4-10 overall and 2-3 in the OVC.

Southern Indiana tallied the game’s first four points out of the opening tip. However, Southeast Missouri answered with the next six. Neither side allowed easy looks in the early going, leading to a slow start offensively. With three minutes left in the first, SEMO pulled ahead by six, 13-7. USI closed the gap before the Redhawks caught fire from three-point range. An 8-2 run for SEMO in the last two minutes of the first led to a 24-14 lead for the Redhawks after the opening frame.

Junior guard Ali Saunders gave the Screaming Eagles an early second-quarter spark, knocking down a couple of jumpers in the first two minutes to help draw USI back within six, 27-21. Raley drilled a three later in the period to make it a four-point game, 33-29, in favor of Southeast Missouri. Trailing by nine halfway in the second quarter, USI turned the tides. The Screaming Eagles went on a 15-0 run in the first half’s final minutes and held SEMO without a field goal in the final five minutes. Saunders and Raley reached double figures before the intermission, as USI carried a 44-40 lead into halftime.

The Screaming Eagles picked up where they left off from the first half with a strong start to the second half. Southern Indiana stretched its lead in the third quarter up to 13, 59-46, with 6:32 on the clock when senior guard Vanessa Shafford cashed in her fourth trey of the contest to tie Stephanie Carpenter’s (2010-14) program record of 194 career three-pointers made. Down the stretch of the third period, USI leaned on its post play. Raley remained effective inside and reached the 20-point mark for the third time this season. Sophomore forward Amiyah Buchanan made her return to SEMO where she spent her freshman season last year. Buchanan converted a pair of inside buckets to help increase Southern Indiana’s lead to 19, 73-54, going to the fourth quarter.

Buchanan continued to make her presence felt at her old stomping grounds with a basket to push USI’s lead to 20 and blocking a shot on the perimeter early in the fourth quarter. With six minutes left in the game, Raley added to her big outing with a layup to extend Southern Indiana’s margin to 25, 85-60. A little over a minute later, Raley set her new career high on a layup, as USI led 89-60. Southern Indiana closed out the win from there.

Southern Indiana finished the game shooting over 60 percent overall for the first time since USI shot above 65 percent at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock last February. On Thursday, USI shot for 63 percent (35-56) against the Redhawks with a 45 percent clip from three (9-20). The Eagles were 14-19 for 74 percent at the foul line. USI outrebounded SEMO, 25-22, and the Screaming Eagles’ defense turned 22 SEMO turnovers into 31 points. USI also had 48 points in the paint.

Raley’s career-best 29 points, which surpassed her previous mark of 27 that she set at Southeast Missouri two seasons ago, led all scorers in Thursday’s game. Raley was 12-16 shooting in 32 minutes of action. Shafford was next in scoring for USI with 18 points while adding six rebounds and five assists in the contest. Shafford was 7-9 from the floor and 4-6 from three, as Shafford’s next made three will set a new program career record for three-pointers made. Saunders dropped 14 points with six assists and sophomore guard Triniti Ralston added 11 points.

After a hot start for Southeast Missouri, the Redhawks were limited to 41 percent shooting (24-58) and 41 percent from three (9-22). SEMO went for 86 percent (12-14) at the charity stripe. The Redhawks had three double-digit scorers including with 20-plus points. Senior guard Skylar Barnes had a team-high 21 points with freshman guard Zoe Best right behind at 20 points for the game.

The Screaming Eagles conclude their road swing this weekend at Little Rock. The game is slated for Saturday at 1 p.m. The game can be seen on ESPN+ and heard on The Spin 95.7 FM. For the potential of any schedule changes due to inclement weather, stay tuned to usiscreamingeagles.com.

Lady Blazers drop road Region showdown at Southwestern Illinois

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Lady Blazers drop road Region showdown at Southwestern Illinois

BELLEVILLE, Ill. – The Vincennes University Lady Trailblazers jumped back into their Region 24 schedule Thursday night, hitting the road to Belleville, Ill. for a Region 24 showdown with Southwestern Illinois College.

The Lady Blazers had a hard time getting the offense going early and fell for the first time in Region play this season, falling to the Lady Blue Storm 99-55.

The Lady Blue Storm set the tone early, scoring the first eight points of the game and later using another 8-0 scoring run to take an early 20-7 first quarter lead.

Vincennes battled but still found themselves trailing 29-13 after the first 10 minutes of play.

After the Lady Blazers scored the opening basket of the second quarter, Southwestern Illinois answered back with a 12-0 scoring run to increase the lead to 41-15.

The Lady Blue Storm would score the final six points of the first half to head into the locker room break leading Vincennes 51-21.

Vincennes looked to bounce back in the second half but were again on the wrong end of a 13-2 scoring run as the Lady Blue Storm continued to add to their lead, holding a 74-33 advantage heading into the fourth quarter.

Vincennes was able to get the shots to start falling in the fourth quarter, getting an 8-0 scoring run of their own but were unable to overcome the deficit as Southwestern Illinois College finished off the 99-55 victory over the Lady Blazers.

Freshman Delora Pricop (Satu Mare, Romania) lead the way for the Lady Blazers all night, finishing off another big double-double with 14 points and 16 rebounds, while also leading the Lady Blazers with a pair of blocks.

Freshman Netala Dixon (Dyersburg, Tenn.) provided a spark off the bench for Vincennes, finishing her night with 11 points, seven rebounds and five assists for VU.

Freshman Emani Washington (Indianapolis, Ind.) had a good game defensively, coming away with 11 points, four rebounds and a team-high four steals.

Freshman Ahmya Thomas (Phoenix, Ariz.) was the fourth Lady Blazer to score in double figures, finishing her night with 10 points, three rebounds, three assists and three steals.

The Lady Trailblazers will look to bounce back when they return home Saturday, Jan. 11 to face Shawnee Community College in another Region 24 doubleheader. Tip-off time for your Lady Blazers is set for 2 p.m. eastern.

VINCENNES BOX SCORE

VINCENNES (55): Ahmya Thomas 4-26 1-2 10, Jazmyn Robey 3-6 0-0 7, Iris Comesana 1-5 0-0 2, Emani Washington 5-13 0-0 11, Delora Pricop 5-12 4-8 14, Netala Dixon 4-10 2-5 11, Team 22-72 7-15 55.

VU (7-9, 2-1) – 13   8   12   22 – 55

SWIC – 29   22   23   25 – 99

Three-point goals: VU 4 (Thomas, Robey, Washington, Dixon). Rebounds: VU 33 (Pricop 16). Assists: VU 13 (Dixon 5). Steals: VU 10 (Washington 4). Blocked Shots: VU 3 (Pricop 2). Turnovers: VU 21. Personal Fouls: VU 12. Fouled out: Robey.

-30-

The Vincennes University Lady Trailblazers fall to 7-9 on the season, with a 2-1 record in Region 24 play.

USI Screaming Eagles Outflown by Redhawks

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Screaming Eagles outflown by Redhawks, 77-66

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – University of Southern Indiana Men’s Basketball suffered a 77-66 setback at Southeast Missouri State University Thursday evening in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. The Screaming Eagles are 6-9 overall and 1-4 in OVC action, while the Redhawks are 9-7, 4-1 OVC.

USI got the first bucket of the game for the 2-0 lead before the SEMO Redhawks flew out of an eight-point lead, 19-7, with 10:48 left in the opening half. The Eagles would battle back to knot the score at 20-20 when sophomore forward Stephen Olowoniyi threw down a dunk.

SEMO pushed the lead back to seven points, 31-24, with 3:58 remaining in the opening half, but USI closed the gap to 37-31 at the break. Olowoniyi and junior guard Damoni Harrison led the Eagles’ scorers with nine points each.

USI struggled to start the second half, going over three minutes before getting its first bucket of the half, while SEMO extended the margin to 10-points, 46-36, with 10:12 to play. The Eagles tried to rally, cutting the deficit to as few as two points (52-50) once and to a one-procession game three times, before the Redhawks pulled away for good in the 77-66 final.

Individually for USI in the scoring column, junior guard Sam Kodi led the Eagles with 15 points. Kodi, whose 15 points was one short of a season-high, was five-of-10 from the field and five-of-seven from the line.

Junior guard Braxton Jones followed with 13 points, while Olowoniyi posted a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Harrison rounded out the double-digit scorers with 11 points.

Next Up For USI:
USI concludes the three-game OVC road swing Saturday when it visits the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Tipoff is slated for 3 p.m. in the Jack Stephens Center.

The Trojans are 8-7 overall and 2-2 in the OVC after losing 59-53 to Morehead State University this afternoon in Little Rock. Little Rock, who has won five of the last eight games, had its matchup with Morehead State moved up to 1 p.m. this afternoon due to the winter storm rolling through the Midwest.

The series is tied 2-2 after Little Rock took both games in the series last season. The Trojans took the opening game of the home-and-home series, 77-75, at Liberty Arena and 80-62 in Little Rock.

All of the USI Basketball action can be seen live on ESPN+. The game can also be heard on ESPN 97.7FM (http://listentotheref.com) and 95.7FM The Spin (http://957thespin.com).

Following the road trip, USI returns home for a pair of OVC games at Liberty Arena. The Eagles are slated to host Lindenwood University January 16 and Western Illinois University January 18.

The January 18 USI-WIU matchup is Military Appreciation Day at Liberty Arena. Veterans and their guests will receive free tickets with proof of service (limit to five per veteran) on Military Appreciation Day, which is sponsored by the USI Student Veteran Association.

Tickets for the homestand and all USI home dates are on sale now at USIScreamingEagles.com.

Vanderburgh County Arrest Warrants

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Vanderburgh County Arrest Warrants

Vanderburgh County Recent Booking Records

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Vanderburgh County Recent Booking Records

Booked Last 24 Hours-Public

BREAKING NEWS: Winter Storm Warning / 700 Remain Without Power

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Updated Friday, January 10, 5:50 AM

Centerpoint Energy reports that as of Friday morning, 99% of customers have had their power restored. About 700 remain without power. More than 1,000 people have been working to restore power.

We are now under a new winter storm warning for the Evansville area.

This morning, snow will start moving in from the southwest and gradually push east through the morning. This will be steady, widespread snowfall through the morning and afternoon. Most of the snow will be tapering off in the late afternoon.

Highs will be in the perfect range for dry snowfall, right around the low 30s.

WEVV meteorologist Jonathan Weaver says that we’re in for 2 to 5 inches of snow.

We’ll see dry conditions over the weekend and a good amount of sunshine for continued thawing. Highs will be in the low to mid 30s.

Latest Update on Injured Evansville Police Officer – You Can Encourage Jordon

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Jordon Rundle, the EPD officer who was seriously injured in an off-duty car crash, has been making progress in recent days, but he can use your encouragement.
Jordon has been weaned off of all of his IV medications. He can breathe without the ventilator, and his oxygen support is only at 40% (basically, CPAP level). And, he had his last chest tube removed this morning.
Within the next few days, he will move out of critical care and is moving to a new phase of his recovery. This will be a very challenging time, and he can use some extra encouragement.
His family has asked for people to send him cards of encouragement.
The FOP will collect the cards and pass them on to Jordon. You can mail them or drop them off at the FOP Lodge.
FOP Lodge #73
c/o Jordan Rundle
801 Court St
Evansville, IN 47708
We will make sure he gets all of your words of encouragement and support!

LA Fires: A Disaster Worsened by Misplaced Priorities

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Misplaced Priorities is Rampant in American Cities
by Joe Wallace, CCO Columnist, January 10, 2025
In recent years, there has been growing public concern over how elected officials allocate taxpayer money. In Los Angeles, billions of dollars were poured into projects with questionable relevance while essential services, like the capacity to fight fires, were left underfunded. This lack of investment had dire consequences when one of the largest disasters in history unfolded—a situation that could have been mitigated with better prioritization.

This pattern is not unique to Los Angeles. Across the United States and beyond, examples abound of governments spending heavily on projects aimed at boosting their image or pleasing specific constituencies while neglecting foundational infrastructure and services. The fallout from such decisions is often devastating, as seen in disasters that expose systemic neglect.

The Los Angeles Fires: A Case Study in Mismanagement

Los Angeles’s recent history is emblematic of this issue. The city allocated billions to initiatives like urban beautification projects and entertainment venues, yet its firefighting resources remained underfunded. The consequences were catastrophic when unprecedented wildfires ravaged the region. Insufficient fire crews, outdated equipment, and poor forest management policies compounded the disaster. In retrospect, the underinvestment in fire prevention and response infrastructure was glaringly obvious but tragically too late to address.

These fires also highlighted the broader issue of climate change and the increasing frequency of extreme weather events. It’s a reality that demands proactive measures, yet cities like Los Angeles often seem more focused on building stadiums or hosting international events than on addressing vulnerabilities to natural disasters.

Other Examples of Misplaced Priorities

Flint, Michigan: The Water Crisis

One of the most infamous examples of governmental neglect is the Flint water crisis. In an effort to save money, officials switched the city’s water supply to the Flint River without properly treating the water, leading to lead contamination that affected thousands of residents. Meanwhile, funding continued for non-essential projects elsewhere in Michigan. This public health disaster underscored how deprioritizing essential services can have long-lasting and devastating effects on communities.

New Orleans: Hurricane Katrina

The devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina in 2005 was exacerbated by the failure to maintain and upgrade levee systems. Despite warnings from experts, investments in the city’s flood protection infrastructure were insufficient. Instead, money flowed toward more politically appealing projects, leaving the city vulnerable to the catastrophic flooding that followed.

San Francisco: Housing vs. Aesthetic Projects

San Francisco provides another stark example of skewed priorities. The city has spent millions on public art installations and beautification efforts while its homelessness crisis has spiraled out of control. Despite the glaring need for affordable housing and mental health services, significant funds have been diverted to less urgent initiatives. This misallocation leaves vulnerable populations without critical support and tarnishes the city’s global reputation.

Why Does This Happen?

There are several reasons why governments repeatedly make such choices:

  1. Political Appeal: High-visibility projects like stadiums, parks, or public art create opportunities for ribbon-cutting ceremonies and favorable media coverage. They allow officials to tout “tangible accomplishments” during their campaigns.
  2. Short-Term Thinking: Politicians often operate on election cycles, prioritizing projects that yield immediate benefits over long-term investments in infrastructure or safety that might not show results for years.
  3. Influence of Special Interests: Powerful lobbying groups often steer public funds toward projects that serve their interests, regardless of public need. This can divert resources from essential services to projects that benefit a small segment of the population.
  4. Lack of Accountability: When governments fail to deliver on basic needs, accountability mechanisms are often weak. Voter fatigue and limited transparency further exacerbate the problem.

The Cost of Neglect

The consequences of ignoring essential services and infrastructure are profound. Beyond the immediate human toll of disasters, there are long-term economic repercussions. Businesses suffer, insurance rates spike, and taxpayers ultimately foot the bill for emergency responses and rebuilding efforts that could have been mitigated with proper planning.

Moreover, neglecting basic needs erodes public trust. Citizens lose faith in their governments when they see money squandered on high-profile projects while essential services crumble. This loss of trust has far-reaching implications for civic engagement and the functioning of democracy itself.

Moving Forward

To address this issue, governments must recalibrate their priorities. Here are some key steps:

  1. Prioritize Essential Services: Funding for public safety, infrastructure, and basic needs should take precedence over non-essential projects. Comprehensive risk assessments should guide budget decisions.
  2. Increase Transparency: Public input and oversight can help ensure that funds are allocated effectively. Governments should adopt participatory budgeting processes to give citizens a voice in spending decisions.
  3. Adopt Long-Term Planning: Officials should prioritize projects that provide lasting benefits, even if they don’t offer immediate political wins. Investments in climate resilience, public health, and infrastructure are essential in an era of increasing environmental and social challenges.
  4. Hold Leaders Accountable: Stronger mechanisms are needed to ensure that leaders who neglect basic needs face consequences. This could include more rigorous audits and better-informed voters.

The disasters in Los Angeles, Flint, New Orleans, and San Francisco—among many others—serve as stark reminders of the cost of misplaced priorities. Addressing this issue requires a shift in how governments view their responsibilities and a renewed commitment to serving the public good. Only by investing in the essentials can we prevent future tragedies and build a foundation for sustainable progress.

Weekend Entertainment: Bulls, Country Music, and Movies

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Here’s some of the entertainment available in Evansville this weekend.

Bulls, Bands and Barrels

6:30 Saturday at the Ford Center

THIS AIN’T YOUR GRANDPAPPY’S RODEO!

An adrenaline-packed night of bull riding and barrel racing followed by a concert with Gavin Adcock and special guest Alexandra Kay.

Mac McAnally in concert

Saturday at the Victory Theatre

For his new album, Once in a Lifetime, Mac McAnally is indeed doing something he’s never done before. To reflect the intimacy of his concerts, he arranged most of the material around guitar and percussion – yet he acknowledges that several of its tracks outgrew that simple set-up. And while many of the songs are new, he chose to include a few originals dating back to the early 2000s that seemed like a good fit.

AT THE MOVIES

BETTER MAN
Rated R
Follow Robbie Williams’ journey from childhood, to being the youngest member of chart-topping boyband Take That, through to his unparalleled achievements as a record-breaking solo artist – all the while confronting the challenges that stratospheric fame and success can bring.

DEN OF THIEVES 2 PANTERA
Rated R
Big Nick is back on the hunt in Europe and closing in on Donnie, who is embroiled in the treacherous and unpredictable world of diamond thieves and the infamous Panther mafia, as they plot a massive heist of the world’s largest diamond exchange.

BABYGIRL
Rated R
A high-powered CEO puts her career and family on the line when she begins a torrid affair with her much younger intern.

 

MUFASA THE LION KING
Rated PG
Rafiki relays the legend of Mufasa to lion cub Kiara, daughter of Simba and Nala. Told in flashbacks, the story introduces Mufasa as an orphaned cub, lost and alone until he meets a sympathetic lion named Taka—the heir to a royal bloodline. The chance meeting sets in motion a journey of misfits searching for their destiny and working together to evade a threatening and deadly foe.

MOANA 2
RatedPG
After receiving an unexpected call from her wayfinding ancestors, Moana journeys alongside Maui and a new crew to the far seas of Oceania and into dangerous, long-lost waters for an adventure unlike anything she’s ever faced.

First Indiana Senate meeting of 2025 is a tribute to outgoing Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch

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Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch receives accolades from Senate President Pro Tem Rodric Bray, R-Martinsville, Wednesday in the Indiana Senate.  Photo by Schyler Altherr, TheStatehouseFile.com.

First Indiana Senate meeting of 2025 is a tribute to outgoing Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch

By Anna Cecil and Chloe White, TheStatehouseFile.com, January 9, 2025

Indiana’s 124th legislative session began with a heartwarming tribute to 52nd Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch. Senators passed a special resolution honoring her eight years of service as president of the Senate.

Twenty-five senators of both parties testified to Crouch’s dedication to improving mental health and developmental disabilities services, civic education, and personal relationships across the aisle.

“I just want to thank her for her many years of friendship and for her work on mental health as something that Indiana has lagged behind for many, many years,” said Senator Vaneta Becker, R-Evansville.

Sen. Shelli Yoder, D-Bloomington, commended Crouch for exemplifying strong, female leadership in government.

“Lt. Gov. Crouch has inspired countless leaders, women, to make their voices heard. You’ve inspired us to break down barriers and to have the courage to have critical conversations,” Yoder said.

Crouch’s feminine inspiration was echoed in remarks by Sen. La Keisha Jackson, D-Indianapolis.

“She symbolizes true girl power,” she said.

Alongside inspiring women, Crouch also made strides for mental-health care during her years in office. In 2021, Crouch founded the Indiana Mental Health Roundtable, which works to lower the stigma against mental health and improve access, affordability and the quality of Indiana’s mental-health services.

“I think if you really asked her, in a quiet moment, she would say her grandest accomplishment, her most meaningful work has been the work for mental health and trying to advance the interests of intellectual and developmental disabilities,” said Senate President Rodric Bray, R-Martinsville, author of the special resolution honoring Crouch.

While her colleagues spoke of her political accomplishments, they did not hesitate to mention the impact Crouch had on them as a friend.

Sen. Ed Charbonneau, R-Valparaiso, shared memories of Crouch as his personal mentor. He said she helped him gain confidence as a legislator.

“When I got here, I was pretty much in a shell. I had a hard time getting up and talking, really saying anything, even in small groups … I now get to stand before you and say, ‘Life is good.’” Charbonneau said while raising his arms in the air.

During past sessions, Sen. Ryan Mishler, R-Mishawaka, and Crouch have lived across the street from each other. Mishler shared that he and Crouch would often meet for dinner at a Mexican restaurant on the street where they lived.

“We’d talk about everything but this,” he said. “We talked about our families and other things that are very important, and I think we both needed that. You really get to know somebody at a time like that.”

Senate Republicans’ legislative agenda

Earlier in the day, Indiana Senate Republicans detailed a caucus agenda aimed at property tax reform, containing Medicaid costs, lowering health care costs, responsible management of water resources and fiscal integrity and contract accountability, according to a press release.

“In addition to a responsibly balanced state budget, our agenda is focused on lowering property taxes and good-government measures,” said Senate President Pro Tem Rodric Bray, R-Martinsville.

“Though Indiana has one of the lowest property tax burdens in the country, we know Hoosiers are feeling the sting of rising property tax bills. We stand ready to collaborate with Gov.-elect Braun and our counterparts in the House to pass meaningful property tax reform. In addition, we will be pursuing several good-government measures to ensure Hoosier taxpayer dollars are being invested responsibly and with transparency and are again this year pursuing policies to lower health care costs.”

Anna Cecil and Chloe White are reporters for TheStatehouseFile.com, a news website powered by Franklin College journalism students. 

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