Just a reminder that the semester ending Book Buyback runs from now until December 14. If you're selling books please bring your student ID with you. You'll get cash on the spot for anything you sell regardless of where you purchased it. Also during Buyback, the Bookstore is offering 20 percent off all clothing and gift purchases. Stop in and get some cash and save some money during Buyback.

A hot chocolate bar is set for today in Cafe Court. This event is part of Exam Treats, free events for UE students to help fuel them through final exams. You must show UE student ID to enter.

The UE Alumni Association invites new graduates, their family and friends, plus faculty and staff to an informal reception following today's commencement ceremony. Held in the Class of 1959 Gallery and Lounge in Ridgway University Center, the reception begins at 4:00 p.m. Congratulations and welcome winter graduates!

Two more spaces are available for students to join the GAP Cuba program in Spring 2017. The newly discounted price is $700 plus airfare. If you are interested in joining this groundbreaking opportunity, please contact Amara Stuehling (as760@evansville.edu) by Wednesday, December 14.

This course will provide opportunities to better understand and engage in issues of business practices and social and civic responsibility in an international context. The course will focus on addressing the needs of Cuba Skate, a non-profit initiative designed to foster a constructive environment for Cuban youth
 

Make your life easier by setting MyUE.evansville.edu as your landing page:

• Icons for frequently used UE websites are organized in one place.
• View your calendar.
• Important announcements you don’t want to miss (like critical deadlines for students) are separated from information about events, news articles, etc.
• Get Flush Flash electronically!

The portal includes the Student Zone, and we need your input. Submit jokes, cartoons, memes, quotes, pictures, or other appropriate (as in clean!) content of interest to all students to myuestudentzone@evansville.edu.

Congratulations to freshman Sydney Fritch, who entered the December drawing by offering submissions to the Student Zone. She won a $100 gift certificate to the UE Bookstore. Watch for information about our spring semester drawing when we return in January.
 

This is a reminder that books rented through the UE Bookstore are due back in the bookstore no later than 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 14 - the last day of Buyback. If you have any questions please contact the UE Bookstore. Late fees are applied after the due date.

The TIAA-CREF representative will be on the UE campus for individual counseling sessions in the coming months. To schedule an appointment, call TIAA-CREF at 1-800-732-8353 or 317-706-6200. The sessions are held in Room 208 in the University Libraries.

Sessions are planned for:

• January 10
• February 15 and 16
• March 21
• April 12 and 13
• May 16
• June 14 and 15
• July 11
• August 16 and 17
• September 12
• October 11 and 12
• November 14
• December 13 and 14

If you are in need of a general education course that satisfies Outcome 5 and a Writing across the Curriculum overlay (E), be aware that the Department of Creative Writing has opened an additional section of WRTG 205, Introduction to Creative Writing (section 03) for spring 2017. This course will give students a chance to write and revise poetry, fiction, and nonfiction in a class of 15 participants. First come, first served!

If you have any questions, please contact Paul Bone, associate professor of creative writing, at pb28@evansville.edu.
 

The Office of Academic Affairs and University Libraries are pleased to announce that a site license to the Chronicle of Higher Education is available to all students, faculty, and staff. Read the detailed instructions to find out how to access the Chronicle. Contact Robb M. Waltner at rw3@evansville.edu if you have any questions.

Young Kim, Igleheart Chair in Political Science and director of international studies, recently published a paper titled “Anti-Americanism in East Asia: Analyses of college students’ attitudes in China, Japan, and South Korea” in the peer-reviewed academic journal, International Area Studies Review.

He has conducted a cross-national survey in China, Japan, and South Korea. The research was able to be done thanks to the financial support of the Austin S. Igleheart Family Endowment and the Global Scholars Program of the Institute for Global Enterprise at the University of Evansville.

Read the paper to see the details of his research.

After riding a high-scoring offense to three consecutive wins, the University of Evansville Women’s Basketball team did it on the other end of the floor on Saturday afternoon, earning a fourth straight win with a 68-54 decision over visiting Austin Peay at the Ford Center.

“The defense stepped up big for us today,” UE interim head coach Matt Ruffing said. “We’re making a lot of strides, and I really like where our team is at right now. We’re still trying to find ways to get better, and we’re learning how to win games. Now we’re winning in different ways, which will really help us grow as a team.”

The Aces (4-5) held the Governors (5-5) to 32.8% shooting from the field, and the game marked just the third time this season that UE enjoyed a more efficient shooting performance than their opponent and the third time over the current winning streak that an opponent was held to under 40%.

Things started off well for UE, beginning with a pair of Sara Dickey layups before the visitors out of Clarksville, Tenn., grabbed their first and only lead with a Tearra Banks basket to make it 8-7. The lead would last all of 15 seconds, as the Aces closed out the opening period with six straight points to take 13-8 lead into the second quarter.

Banks starred for APSU on the day, scoring a game-best 22 points to go along with 14 rebounds.

Dickey, UE’s all-time leading scorer with 1,802 career points, was the story of the second frame as she poured in 13 of her 20 points, punctuating the first half with a three-pointer as time expired to give the Aces a 31-23 advantage at the break.

“In the first half, our shots just weren’t falling, especially from three, and I think some of the team got a little hesitant,” Ruffing explained. “Sara’s never shied away from a shot since she stepped on campus. It was nice to see her kind of put us on her shoulders as she’s done many times over the years.”

UE looked to come out of the break strong, taking an 11-point lead in the early goings of the third quarter, but a 13-4 run by the Govs made things interesting as Banks scored six points over the stretch to pull within two at 39-37. However, the Aces were able to push back scoring six of the last eight points in the quarter to regain some breathing room.

From there, Camary Williams would take the Aces home. The senior guard is enjoying a fantastic start to the season and Saturday was no different. The Ft. Myers, Florida, product scored 11 of her 19 points in the final 10 minutes, and she was once again a nuisance defensively, pulling down five rebounds and matching her NCAA-best average in steals with five.

“There was nothing really going Camary’s way in the first half,” Ruffing said. “For her to bounce back like that and take over in the second half says a lot. She led us to this victory.”

Gasper also hit double-digits in points for the Aces with 10, and Sasha Robinson led the team with nine rebounds.

UE will return to action next week with a trip to No. 8 Louisville on Sunday, December 18.
 

The University of Evansville defense held Murray State to just 27.8% shooting as the Purple Aces Men's Basketball team moved to 6-0 at the Ford Center, taking down the Racers by a final of 78-46 on Saturday afternoon.

Jaylon Brown had his third 20-point effort in a row, notching a game-high 24 points while hitting all four of his 3-point attempts. Ryan Taylor scored 20 points as he hit seven of his 13 attempts. David Howard finished the game with 10 for UE (6-4), hitting four out of six tries.

"From start to finish, that was our best effort so far," UE head coach Marty Simmons said. "Our guys were aggressive in going after the ball and our hands were active in getting deflections. Overall, our execution was very good, especially in the first half."

As a team, the Aces hit a season-high eight 3-pointers and shot 46.4% on the day.

Pacing the Racers (4-5) was Jonathan Stark and Bryce Jones, who had nine points apiece.

"What we did today is what we have been working on all year, we were just better today," Duane Gibson said. "Our guys were able to stay focused and be in the right spots."

Triples were falling in the first half as the Aces knocked down six on their way to a 46-21 lead at the half. Evansville tied its season high for a game in just 20 minutes of play, led by Jaylon Brown, who was 3-for-3 in the opening 20 minutes. Brown completed the opening stanza with 19 points while Ryan Taylor registered 13.

After the Purple Aces notched the opening bucket of the day, Jonathan Stark connected on a triple to give Murray State a 3-2 lead. That would be the last advantage they would enjoy. The first big run of the day saw UE take a 12-4 lead. Taylor had six of those tallies. The Racers got within four, 21-17, at the midway point of the half before UE began to pull away.

Evansville finished the half on a 25-4 run to lead by 25 points following the first 20 minutes of action. Highlighting the half was the Aces finishing the period hitting their last five 3-pointers with Brown notching three. The defense held Murray State to just 24% shooting at the half (6-of-25) and just 2/12 from inside the arc.

Just as shots were falling in the first half, UE added to the lead in the second half. The advantage reached as many as 34 in the final minute before UE completed the game with the 78-46 finish.

"Any time we play them it is a big game and to come out with a win is big for us," Brown said. "Coach Simmons tells us that we have to keep the pressure on no matter what the score is and we were able to do that today."

The rebounding battle also went UE's way in the form of a 40-37 advantage. Christian Benzon and Dalen Traore each had seven caroms. For Benzon, it matched his career mark while it was the best effort for Traore.

On Wednesday, UE will look to make it a perfect 7-0 at home, facing Norfolk State at 7:00 p.m.