Venturing Crew will be having sign-ups Feb 19-21 in Ridgway University Center during lunch and dinner for the group's spring break trip to Red River Gorge from March 3-6. Price is a nonrefundable $130. Questions? 

Questions? E-mail sw228@evansville.edu.

Submitted by Sydney Winstead sw228@evansville.edu

An exhibition of abstract paintings by Evansville artist Suzanne Farney will be on display in Krannert Gallery through April 1.

Submitted by Corliss Chastain cc270@evansville.edu

The Offices of Religious Life and Title IX and the Centers for Student Engagement and Career Services will be hosting a special conversation on sexual harassment and misconduct in the workplace this Thursday at 7:00 p.m. in the second-floor gallery in Ridgway University Center. Both the plethora of news stories on harassment and the significant impact of the #MeToo movement have prompted the need to have a conversation over this important social, ethical, and moral issue. All are invited and welcome to join in this conversation. Refreshments will be provided.

Submitted by Keith Turner kt160@evansville.edu 

Please join us tonight at 7:00 p.m., upstairs in Ridgway University Center, to see a presentation on the Philippines by Tristan De Leon. We hope to see you there!

Submitted by Alexis Whitacre aw339@evansville.edu 

The UE Swim and Dive team will be hosting its fifth session of swim lessons. The dates are from Monday, April 2 through Thursday, April 26.

An extra 30 minute time slot has been added to allow more pool space due to growing numbers. The times will be from 4:00-5:30 p.m., Monday-Thursday.

For more information, check out the Aquatic Aces Swim and Dive Lessons Facebook page or e-mail Emma Forbes-Milne at ef112@evansville.edu.

Submitted by Emma Forbes-Milne ef112@evansville.edu

The Newman Center will welcome Linh Vu today at 5:00 p.m. for his talk on the artistic and spiritual components of learning and creating calligraphy. All are welcome and dinner will be provided! 

Submitted by Breanne Buerster bb261@evansville.edu

Visit Panera Bread today - Wednesday, February 21 - from 4:00-8:00 p.m. and present this flyer and 20 percent of your purchase will be donated to the PA Class of 2019 and 2020!

Submitted by Haley Vos hv25@evansville.edu

Sunday, February 25, 4:00 p.m., Wheeler Concert Hall

Wade Baker, trumpeter and flugelhornist, will lead his jazz quintet in the next concert of the Jazz Guest Artist Concert Series, co-sponsored by the University of Evansville and the Evansville Jazz Society. The concert will take place on Sunday, February 25 at 4:00 p.m. in Wheeler Concert Hall.

Baker has established himself as one of the busiest and most in-demand jazz musicians in the region. He holds the master of music degree in jazz studies from the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music. Baker frequently performs on bass, drums, guitar, trumpet and flugelhorn in such ensembles as the Wade Baker Jazz Collaboration, Big Joe Duskin Jazz Orchestra, On the One, Desperado Country Band, the River Brass, and the Bokeh Big Band, which he founded and continues to lead.

Baker has performed and recorded with a wide variety of artists. As a leader, he has recorded four albums with his jazz group and two albums with his guitar driven blues and rock band. In three consecutive years, he was voted a finalist for Musician of the Year by Cincy Groove Magazine. Baker is currently the director of bands at Olney Central College in Olney, Illinois, and Lincoln Trail College in Robinson, Illinois. Other members of his jazz quintet are drummer Chris Parker, bassist Monte Skelton, guitarist Brandon Scott Coleman, and vocalist Jamie Taylor.

Admission to the concert is $15 for adults, $10 for Jazz Society members and $5 for students. Tickets will be available at the door, or can be obtained by contacting the UE Department of Music at 812-488-2754.

For more information, contact UE professor emeritus Edwin Lacy at EL2@evansville.edu or 812-488-2227.

Student Recitals
Saturday, February 24, 4:00 p.m., Wheeler Concert Hall

Ivy Benson (voice)

Submitted by James Sullivan js820@evansville.edu 

UE4SHE and the Office of Diversity are sponsoring a 20th anniversary production of The Vagina Monologues. The performance is scheduled for Thursday March 15 at 7:00 p.m. in Hyde 126. Auditions and the first rehearsal will be held in Hyde 126 on Tuesday February 20 from 7:00-9:00 p.m. and are open to all who identify as women. In addition to performers, volunteers are also needed to work with lighting, music, video, ticket sales, set design, and other jobs. Proceeds from the event will be donated to the Albion Fellows Bacon Center in Evansville. Questions? Please contact Anne Brunache at ab704@evansville.edu or Annette Parks, chair of the history department, at ap3@evansville.edu. Join us as to help end violence against women and girls!

Submitted by Annette Parks ap3@evansville.edu

The University of Evansville will welcome Jim A. Turpin, PhD, from the National Institutes of Health for a free public lecture today - Thursday, February 22 - at 4:00 p.m. in Vectren Lecture Hall, room 100 of the Koch Center for Engineering and Science on UE’s campus.

Find this event on Facebook for the latest information and updates.

Turpin’s lecture, titled "A Journey: Monocytes, HIV Prevention, and UE," will be part of a three-day campus visit hosted by the departments of biology and public health at UE. Turpin is a 1980 alumnus of UE’s biology department.

As a program officer and branch chief at NIH’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), Turpin conducts and supports basic and applied research to better understand and ultimately prevent a HIV/AIDS infection. Turpin conducts and supports basic and applied research focused on developing new and better methods for prevention of HIV/AIDS transmission in healthy uninfected adolescents, men and women.

Turpin’s responsibilities at the NIAID include oversight and management of the preclinical non-vaccine biomedical prevention preclinical program.  He is the program officer and contact for the following grant programs: Integrated Preclinical/Clinical Program for HIV Topical Microbicides (IPCP-HTM), Prevention Innovation Program (PIP), Mucosal Environment and HIV Prevention Program (MEHP), Sustained Release Antiretrovirals for HIV Treatment and Prevention (SRATP), and Risk of Adolescence and Injury in HIV Susceptibility (RAIS). He is the lead for the DAIDS Non-vaccine Biomedical Prevention Sustained Release and Multipurpose Prevention Technologies programs.  His branch also oversees the Comprehensive Resources for HIV Topical Microbicide and Biomedical Prevention (CRMP) contract, which supports provision of gap-filling resources for topical microbicide and prevention development for product sponsors and best practice working groups.

For more information, contact Dale Edwards, Department of Biology, de3@evansville.edu. 

Scholars for Syria invites the community to the Indiana premiere of “Syria’s Disappeared: The Case Against Assad.” The one-hour documentary will be screened tonight - February 22 - at 7:00 p.m. in Room 170 in the Schroeder School of Business Building. This event is free and open to the public.

By weaving together the personal stories of three Syrians with evidence gathered from regime documentation smuggled out of Syria, this documentary tells the hidden story of tens of thousands of men, women and children disappeared by the regime of President Bashar al-Assad into a network of clandestine detention centers. With unprecedented access, the film follow survivors of detention, families of detainees, regime defectors, and international war crimes investigators as they fight to bring the perpetrators to justice and desperately campaign for the release of the disappeared.

This film screening is the opening event of Scholars for Syria’s 2018 Spring Speaker Series.

For more information, contact Gail Vignola at 812-488-2218.

Submitted by Gail Vignola gv15@evansville.edu

Due to an overwhelming amount of interest regarding UE Habitat Barn Blitz, there will be two upcoming informational meetings for anyone who would like to participate.

The first meeting will be Saturday, February 17 from noon-1:00 and the second will be Monday, February 19 from 10:00-11:00 a.m. Both meetings will be in Room 250 in Schroeder School of Business Building.

Anyone who is interested or who has questions about how to get involved with the event is welcome to come to a meeting

Submitted by Greta Becker gb91@evansville.edu

Phi Mu is having a giveback night for Phi Mu Foundation from 4:00-9:00 p.m. this evening.

Submitted by Kelly Nixon kn94@evansville.edu 

Matthew 25 will be at the Health Center today - Tuesday, February 20 - from 9:00 a.m.-noon for free HIV testing. As always the testing is free, confidential, and painless. Call the Health Center at 812-488-2033 or e-mail ac408@evansville.edu to schedule your appointment.

Submitted by Ashley Craig ac408@evansville.edu 

This is a reminder to all May graduates that Commencement Central is Wednesday, February 28 from 4:00-6:00 p.m. and Thursday, March 1 from 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m., upstairs in Ridgway University Center on the north side. Graduates should attend either of the sessions. During the event you will confirm your graduation status will the registrar's office, meet with the alumni and career planning offices, and purchase your cap and gown. You can also order graduation announcements. Jostens will also be there offering a sale on class rings if so interested. This is a must do event for May graduates.

Submitted by Doug Gustwiller dg57@evansville.edu 

The Newman Club will be offering a 20-minute rosary prayer every Thursday at 10:00 a.m. in the Center for Academic Advising in the Clifford Memorial Library. Students and faculty are welcome. For more information, contact Olivia at ov4@evansville.edu.

Submitted by Carly Walker cw289@evansville.edu

The University of Evansville Department of Theatre presents its third production of the season, Kate Hamill’s Sense and Sensibility, based on the novel by Jane Austen. This production opened February 16, in Shanklin Theatre. Additional performances are at 7:30 p.m. tonight - February 23 - and February 24, and at 2:00 p.m. on February 25.

Reputation, redemption, and romance - this feisty new play is a fresh and witty take on the Jane Austen story audiences know and love. When the Dashwood sisters suddenly 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. Oh, my!

Professor of theatre Diane Brewer directs Sense and Sensibility. Elizabeth Tredinnick, a senior from Madison, Wisconsin, serves as scenic designer; assistant professor of theatre Sarah J. Smith is the costume designer; Baxter Pitt, a senior from Dallas, Texas, is the lighting designer; Austin Kuhn, a sophomore from Evansville, serves as sound designer; Jesse Robkin, a senior from Duvall, Washington, is the dramaturg; Jalyn Kowalski, a junior from Lanesville, Indiana, is the stage manager; and assistant technical director Adam Rager serves as technical director.

The cast features junior Alexi Lewis, from Seattle, Washington, as Elinor Dashwood; junior Alexandra Curren, from McKinney, Texas, as Marianne Dashwood; freshman Emma Tolleson, from Temple, Texas, as Margaret Dashwood; freshman Jordan Williams, from Edmonds, Washington, as Mrs. Dashwood; freshman Luke Moran, from Mount Vernon, Iowa, as John Dashwood; junior Matthew McDonald, from Carmel, Indiana, as Edward Ferrars; junior Kathleen Finch, from College Station, Texas, as Fanny Dashwood; junior Marshall Hopkins, from Baldwin City, Kansas, as Colonel Brandon; freshman Jackson Burnham, from Houston, Texas, as John Willoughby; sophomore Luke Lowrance, from Arlington, Texas, as Sir John Middleton; junior Meredith Ham, from Castle Rock, Colorado, as Mrs. Jennings; sophomore Alexis Seay, from Louisville, Kentucky, as Lady Middleton; senior Paige Ward, from Round Rock, Texas, as Lucy Steele; freshman Grace Maddux, from Dubuque, Iowa, as Anne Steele; freshman Evan Lawson, from Arvada, Colorado, as Robert Ferrars; and junior Amanda Suggs, from Cedar Park, Texas, as Lead Gossip/Mrs. Ferrars.

Ticket prices are $18 for adults and $16 for senior adults, students, 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.

Following Sense and Sensibility, the 2017-18 Shanklin Theatre Season closes with Frank Galati’s Grapes of Wrath, based on the novel by John Steinbeck, April 13-22, which concludes the 50th anniversary of Shanklin Theatre.

Tickets may be purchased by calling 812-488–2031, Monday through Friday, noon to 5:00 p.m.

Students who have used federal direct (sub/unsub) loans and plan to graduate in the spring or summer (or transfer after the spring semester) are required to attend a Loan Repayment Counseling Session.

The Office of Financial Aid will hold the first session of the semester on Wednesday, February 28 at 6:00 p.m. in Eykamp Hall, Room 252, Ridgway University Center.

Additional sessions will be held on April 26 at 2:00 p.m. and on May 4 at 11:30 a.m.

Submitted by Amy Sowders as560@evansville.edu 

The University of Evansville Alumni Association recently presented the annual Alumni Awards at UE’s annual Founders Day luncheon. The awards are given to alumni who have achieved personal success and contributed exceptional services to their community and to the University. This year’s recipients are David and Jennifer Pollock, Angela Easterday Stocklin, Sharon and Tom Kazee, and Richard Werking.

David and Jennifer Pollock received the UE’s Distinguished Alumni Award. The Pollocks are award winning scientists, medical researchers, and endowed chairs at the University of Alabama Birmingham. They have provided over 20 UE undergraduate students opportunities to explore biomedical research through summer internships and full-time employment. Jennifer earned a BS in biology from UE, a MS in chemistry from the University of Cincinnati, and a PhD from the department of chemistry, biological division of the University of North Carolina. David majored in biology at UE and earned his PhD in physiology from the University of Cincinnati. 

Angela Easterday Stocklin received the Young Alumna Award. She studied psychology at UE and earned a masters from Indiana State University in school psychology. She and her husband, Randy, started One Click - an online eyewear business - and her commitment to One Click, its values, and customers has resulted in a number of awards, including TechPoint’s MIRA Award for Excellence in New Media, Indiana Companies to Watch, and Indianapolis Business Journal’s list of Fastest-Growing Private Companies in Indiana. She served as an alumni mentor for the UE Connect Program and is a director on the Harlaxton Society Board. 

UE president Tom Kazee and his wife Sharon were recipients of the Samuel Orr Honorary Award. Under President Kazee’s leadership, UE implemented a facilities master plan including new student townhouses and renovations of academic buildings and added new academic programs, including a Physician Assistant Master’s program. During his tenure, UE expanded the Center for Career Development.

Sharon earned her PhD in educational administration from the University of South Carolina and was dean and vice president for arts and academics at the South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities before coming to UE. She advocates for the arts and education through her involvement with Signature School, Evansville Philharmonic, and Evansville Public Art Commission. She serves on the University’s Art Collection Committee, Theatre Society Board, and executive committee of the President’s Club.   

Richard Werking received the Edie Bates Volunteer Service Award. Werking is library director and emeritus professor of history at the US Naval Academy, He was the driving force behind establishing funds honoring three former professors at UE (then Evansville College). He established a scholarship at UE in memory of his parents, both of whom were EC faculty members. Under his leadership, the class of 1966 had one of the most successful reunions in recent UE history in terms of attendance and funds raised toward a class gift. He spearheaded efforts to have decades’ worth of UE yearbooks and student newspapers digitized and made available to all alumni.   

UE faculty, staff, and administrators may now begin picking up their two complimentary men's basketball tickets for the final home game on February 24 at 1:00 p.m. at the Ford Center). Please bring your valid UE ID to the Carson Center in order to claim your tickets. Go Aces!

Submitted by Scott Peace sp166@evansville.edu 

This is a reminder that the United States Postal Service (USPS) will be closed today in observance of President’s Day, Monday, February 19. Please note that UE distribution services/mail services will not be able to pick up mail from USPS today, since the post office will be completely closed. Any mail picked up from UE areas by distribution services/mail services on Monday, February 19, will be transported to Data Mail to be metered and mailed on the afternoon of Tuesday, February 20. For mailing questions, contact mail services at ext. 1067. 

Submitted by Kim Winsett kw83@evansville.edu

Applications for the 2018-19 Margery Florence Kahn Scholarship are now available.

It was the desire of the donor, Margery Florence Kahn, that her scholarship be awarded to "dedicated and conscientious students who exhibit a true passion for their chosen fields of study, and who, in the opinion of the members of the University of Evansville faculty, are likely to bring the same enthusiasm into the performance of their jobs or the practice of the professions which they will pursue following graduation."

All University of Evansville full-time undergraduate students who will be juniors or seniors in 2018-19 may apply. An essay of about 300 words must accompany the application, along with two to five faculty recommendation letters.

Applications are available from the Office of Financial Aid (Olmsted Hall 116). Completed applications and recommendation letters should be returned to the Office of Financial Aid by April 15.

You may also request application materials by e-mailing financialaid@evansville.edu.

Questions may be directed to the Office of Financial Aid via e-mail or by phone at 812-488-2364.

Submitted by Trisha Hawkes th187@evansville.edu 

Students interested in living next year in Village housing (townhouses, Jones Hall, apartments, or houses) should plan to attend an information meeting.

Information meetings will be Tuesday, February 20 at 4:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. in Eykamp 251, Ridgway University Center. During the information meetings, we will discuss how you can apply for Village housing for 2018-19.

If you have questions, please contact Residence Life or view our housing assignments flowchart – www.evansville.edu/residencelife/housingapplyreturn/whereWillYouLive.cfm.

Submitted by Brian Conner bc32@evansville.edu

After an incredible campus-wide effort for the Ashoka visit back in October, UE has successfully progressed to the final step of the Ashoka Changemaker Campus vetting process. Geoff Edwards, Jill Griffin, and Erin Lewis will travel to Boston on April 3 to make the final presentation and participate in interviews with change leaders from around the country.

Congratulations to the Ashoka Visit Planning Committee, the Change Team, and all the faculty, staff, and students who made the campus visit one of the most inspiring the reviewers had ever seen.

In the Site Visit Report, the reviewers shared the following:

“We sensed that students, faculty and staff felt empowered and were eager to address challenges both on and off-campus. The belief in possibility and transformation was palpable. We are excited about the potential contribution UE could make to the Changemaker Campus Network, the field of social innovation and changemaking in higher education, and a world in which everyone can realize their full potential as a changemaker.”

A full version of the report as well as other resources for changemaking can be found on Acelink at acelink.evansville.edu/Areas/Changemaker/.

Submitted by Cindy Kelley ck116@evansville.edu 

Good news! Does your department needs something that doesn’t have to be brand new like a piece of furniture or equipment? Check out the new surplus (property disposal) website on AceLink Areas at acelink.evansville.edu/Areas/PropertyDisposal/ and let your need be known.

Once on the website, click on the "Wish List Email Request for Surplus Property" link to complete the request, copy and paste it into an e-mail to centralreceiving@evansville.edu. Surplus requests will be matched to surplus property as it becomes available on a first come, first served basis.

Be sure to check out the new website for additional information.

Submitted by Kim Winsett kw83@evansville.edu 

Want to make an impact on environmental sustainability, but need funds to get your ideas off the ground? Submit a proposal for UE’s Environmental Sustainability Challenge to have your projects considered for funding from the Green Fund.

Submission Deadline: February 20, 2018

The Green Fund began with a $25,000 environmental sustainability grant from Siemens, and additional funds may be generated through fundraising or savings gained through successful Environmental Sustainability Challenge projects.

Learn more about the challenge and submit a proposal online here.

Submitted by: UE's Environmental Sustainability Committee

The UE Jazz Ensemble I, under the direction of Timothy Zifer, will perform and compete at the 51st Annual Elmhurst College Jazz Festival on February 24. UE is one of 32 college bands performing and competing at this prestigious event. Each college band had to apply and be accepted to participate. UE Jazz Ensemble I has won past awards for student improvised solos, and a student composition. In addition to performing at the festival, the ensemble will also be performing at two high schools on their way up to the Chicago area festival.

Submitted by Tim Zifer tz3@evansville.edu

UE faculty and administrators as well as members of the Evansville community are invited to submit an abstract for papers on any aspect of their research or expertise for the 2018-19 Andiron Lectures in the Liberal Arts and Sciences. All disciplines and fields of study are welcome to submit proposals.

Please send the following by e-mail:

A 50-word abstract with name, academic affiliation/ occupation, paper title, and contact information to Annette Parks at ap3@evansville.edu (with a Cc to Cheryl Emmons at ce36@evansville.edu). Emmons will forward these to the Andiron Lecture Committee for consideration.

Nominations for off-campus speakers can be sent by e-mail to Parks at ap3@evansville.edu with a Cc to Emmons at ce36@evansville.edu; Emmons will forward them to the Andiron Lecture committee for consideration.

Cover your cough! Stop the spread of germs that can make you and others sick!

Here are some ways you can stop the spread of germs:

• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Put your used tissue in the waste basket.
• If you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve or elbow, not your hands.
• You may be asked to put on a face mask to protect others.
• Wash hands often with soap and warm water for 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.

Submitted by Ashley Craig ac408@evansville.edu

Robert Dion, chair for law, politics, and society, was recently interviewed by the Indianapolis Business Journal. The topic was the upcoming Republican primary that will decide who will challenge Democratic US Sen. Joe Donnelly in the fall. You can read the entire article on the IBJ website.

Robert Baines, assistant professor of English, gave a lecture to the James Joyce Society on Friday, February 16 at Glucksman Ireland House on the NYU campus. The lecture was titled "'Vico Influenced Joyce': Reappraising an Ideal History."

Mary Lombardo-Graves and Amy McBride, both assistant professors in the school of education, will be presenting at the Annual Meeting of the Association of Teacher Educators (ATE) to be held in Las Vegas, Nevada, today.

Their presentation, “Teaching Fellows: Addressing teacher shortage areas through a mentoring continuum” introduces participants to the innovative ways the school of education at UE is responding to the growing need for quality educators particularly in underserved areas.

Gary, Indiana native Ryan Taylor scored a game-high 27 points but Marques Townes and Clayton Custer combined for 39 tallies to help Loyola earn a 76-66 win over the University of Evansville men's basketball team at the Ford Center on Sunday.

Taylor hit 10 of his 23 attempts to score his 27. It comes on the heels of a 26-point game on Tuesday at UNI.  K.J. Riley was next for UE (16-13, 6-10 MVC) with seven tallies. For the second game in a row, Blake Simmons was the top rebounder, posting eight.

"In the second half, it seemed like they raised their level of intensity, especially on the defensive end," Aces head coach Marty Simmons said. "When they are pressuring like they were, we have to attack more off the dribble. Defensively when we give up 49, you are not going to beat many teams. They scored too much in transition, which is something we really emphasized with our guys."

Pacing Loyola (23-5, 13-3 MVC) was Marques Townes with 22 points while Custer finished with 17. Donte Ingram scored 14 while Aundre Jackson added 12. With the win, the Ramblers clinch at least a share of the MVC regular-season title.

Nine lead changes took place in the first half with the Purple Aces taking a 28-27 lead into the break. Loyola opened the day with a triple before a pair of Ryan Taylor buckets gave UE its first lead at 4-3. 

Neither team led by more than a possession until Taylor's first long ball of the game gave the Aces a 20-16 lead with just under six minutes remaining. Back-to-back treys from Evan Kuhlman put the UE lead up to 23-18. The offense of the Ramblers pushed them right back into the game.  Marques Townes, who posted 11 in the half, connected on his fifth field goal of the game with 29 ticks remaining to give them a 27-26 lead.

On the other end, John Hall put Evansville right back in the lead with a layup with three seconds left to send UE to the half up 28-27. The Ramblers connected on their last five shots of the half.

In the second half, the squads swapped the lead seven more times, all coming in the first eight minutes of the stanza. With 11:19 remaining, Cameron Satterwhite put Loyola in front for good with a pair of free throws that made it a 45-43 game. They quickly pushed the lead to six, but a tenacious Aces squad kept fighting back. 

Taylor knocked down a 3-pointer at the midway point of the half before a K.J. Riley free throw got UE within two at 49-47. Five in a row by the Ramblers saw their lead grow to seven, but UE once again cut the deficit to two when Noah Frederking hit a pair of free throws with 6:21 left.

With the Ramblers clinging to a 60-57 lead, Donte Ingram nailed a triple with 4:06 on the clock to push the lead to six. From there, they were able to add some late free throws to pull away for the 76-66 win.

A huge difference in the second half came in the shooting effort for Loyola as they hit 70% of their attempts in the final 20 minutes to finish the game at 58.1%.  Evansville shot 43.4%. The Ramblers also finished the game with a 31-22 edge on the boards.

The final week of the regular season is here for the Purple Aces, who travel to Terre Haute on Wednesday for a 7:00 p.m. game at Indiana State. On Saturday, UE wraps up its home slate against Southern Illinois at 1:00 p.m.

The University of Evansville women's basketball team dropped a defensive battle on the road at Illinois State, 70-44, in Normal, Ill., on Sunday afternoon.

"We've seen better effort over the last couple of games, but the attention to detail is key," said Aces head coach Matt Ruffing. "We were giving our team some different things out of timeouts that we thought would help different adjustments or things that maybe they weren't seeing that we as a coaching staff thought would put them in positions to be successful, but unfortunately we weren't carrying that out onto the court out of the timeout. I have to give credit to Katelyn (Hedinger). She comes in and does what we ask her to do and was aggressive and for her to get six points in the first half was a nice boost for us and hopefully gives her confidence heading into the last four games of the regular season."

Leading the Aces was junior guard Kerri Gasper with 21 points on the afternoon, adding six rebounds and two assists. Sophomore guard Katelyn Hedinger aided the effort with a career-high six points in the game. For the Redbirds, Simone Goods scored a game-high 24 points, chipping-in nine rebounds, and two steals.

The Redbirds controlled the early moments of the first quarter as Illinois State took a 7-2 lead to the first media timeout. After ISU increased its margin to seven, graduate guard Hannah Noe hit a three to trim the Aces' deficit to 9-5 with 3:47 left in the quarter. Following Noe's three, the Redbirds answered with a triple of their own and converted a second-chance opportunity into a basket to start an 8-2 run that gave Illinois State a 17-7 advantage after the opening quarter.

A quick five points for Illinois State to open the second period forced an Aces timeout with 8:49 left on the clock as the Redbirds opened up a 22-7 lead. Coming out of the timeout, Evansville mounted a 7-2 run capped-off by a deep three by Gasper that cut the Redbirds' lead to 10 at 24-14 with under five minutes remaining in the quarter. Illinois State pushed its lead to 14 with 2:49 on the clock in the second frame, but the Aces responded by way of sophomore guard Katelyn Hedinger. The Jasper, Ind. native scored six-straight Evansville points, draining a three-pointer and being fouled on a made layup and hit the following free throw to bring Evansville back within 10 at 30-20 heading into the final 1:44 of the second period. To close the quarter, the Redbirds hit a three-pointer as Illinois State grabbed a 33-20 lead going into the half.

Evansville kept pace with the Redbirds to open the third period. Gasper scored five points in the first five minutes of the quarter as Illinois State held a 45-30 advantage at the under-five media timeout. After the timeout, the Aces were out-scored 13-4 as the Redbirds took a 58-34 lead into the fourth period.

In the fourth quarter, Illinois State continued its run as the Redbirds' lead grew to 25 at 63-38 with under five minutes remaining. Gasper continued her strong second half as she scored the first four Aces' points of the period as UE went on a 6-2 run midway through the quarter to Illinois State's lead to 21 at 65-44 with 3:23 left in the contest. The Redbirds responded with a 5-0 run to close the game as Illinois State captured the 70-44 win.

Both teams shot evenly in the contest with Illinois State edging the Aces from the field, 38.6% (27-70) to 35.4% (17-48). In the battle of the boards, the Redbirds owned a 58-20 advantage over Evansville.

The Aces return home to Meeks Family Fieldhouse to host Loyola at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, February 23 and Valparaiso at 1:00 p.m. on Senior Day on Sunday, February 25 for Evansville's final home weekend.

It was a tough finish to a weekend that started out promising for the University of Evansville, as the Purple Aces fell to the eighth ranked team in the nation, Kentucky 8-4, in Spartanburg, South Carolina Sunday afternoon.

The Wildcats got the jump on Evansville starter David Ellis, scoring the icebreaker in the first inning on Luke Becker's double down the left field line, bringing in Tristan Pompey to make it 1-0. Then, in the second frame Troy Squires tallied from third base on a fielder's choice, which put UE in a 2-0 hole.

"We came out in the first inning flat on the mound," said University of Evansville baseball Head Coach Wes Carroll. "We just didn't get ahead of hitters. They're a good offensive unit over there."

Sophomore first baseman Troy Beilsmith, who came in as part of a double switch, with Tanner Craig moving over to third base to replace an injured Sam Troyer, got the Aces on the board, drilling a solo home run to left, cutting the deficit to 2-1.

"We know we're going to get a scrappy at-bat from Troy," said Carroll. "For him to home run in two games opening weekend, it's great to see for an offense that's struck out at an enormous clip. Having 44 strikeouts over the course of the weekend, I think we broke some personal records. We've got to get better in the batters box, especially with two strikes. But to see him be a bright light over the course of the weekend was great to see, because we need versatile options in both our offensive and defensive units."

However, it wouldn't stay tight for long, as Kentucky answered in the bottom of the third, with a double from Tristan Pompey and a walk to Luke Becker, chasing Ellis from the game. Jimmy Ward came in in relief, but a flare to left off the bat of T.J. Collett got lost in the sun by sophomore outfielder Brendan Krob, dropping in for a double. That would score Pompey from second to make it 3-1 Kentucky.

Later in the inning, the Wildcats loaded up the bases on Ward, then Ryan Johnson unloaded them with a bases-clearing double down the right field line, bringing in a trio of tallies, giving UK a 6-1 advantage. That would close the book on Ellis, who went two innings, allowing four runs on three hits and three walks.

"He just wasn't able to get his off-speed pitches over early in the count, and that was the game plan going in, and that's what chased him out of the game", said Carroll. "He's going to continue to get better. He's a young guy in our program, and the more innings he throws, the better his off-speed is going to come along. We're real excited about his future."

Evansville would cut into the deficit in the top of the 4th, as a throwing error would allow senior designated hitter Travis Tokarek to score, cutting the Kentucky lead to four. However, a sacrifice fly by T.J. Collett in the bottom of the frame would get the Wildcat lead back up to five.

Senior Dalton Horstmeyer would replace Ward in the fourth, and would give up an RBI sacrifice fly to T.J. Collett in the bottom of the frame. Then after a scoreless fifth, Luke Heyer would tag him for a solo home run in the sixth, increasing the UK lead to 8-2.

The Aces would attempt a rally in the seventh inning, loading up the bases on Kentucky reliever Daniel Harper. Sophomore outfielder Kenton Crews would slap a single up the middle, scoring both Craig Shepherd and Cooper Trinkle, drawing Evansville back to within 4.

"He's (Crews) had some mechanical things going on in his swing that he was able to correct today and it was great to see," said Carroll. "He's such a great athlete, an elite athlete that he can make changes physically within a game, within an at-bat. It was great to see him make those adjustments, work back up the middle and get some big RBI hits. That's what we've got to have out of our 3-hole, an explosive athlete and a dynamic hitter."

However, the Aces would draw no closer, as they fell to 1-2 on the season. Kentucky improved to 4-0.

"I thought our hitters settled in and had some great at-bats later in the game", said Carroll. "In winning time, I thought we had some winning at-bats. A lot of young guys got in there and got a chance to get there feet wet this weekend. I feel like we got better as a team and I'm real anxious to see us play next week."

Evansville is back in action next Friday, when they travel back down to the sunny South to face Kennesaw State for a four-game series. First pitch from Atlanta, Georgia is at 4:00 p.m. Central Time.

Junior Morgan Florey limited #17 Georgia to just two runs on five hits as the University of Evansville softball team lost a close one to finish up the Red & Black Showcase in Athens, Ga.

Florey threw six innings against the Bulldogs and struck out five for the Purple Aces (2-6). She gave up two earned runs on five hits with the Bulldogs claiming a 2-0 triumph. In the first game of the day, Evansville fell by an 11-6 final to Samford.

Game One

After Samford scored single runs in the top of the first and second innings of Sunday’s opener, Evansville got on the board with a four-spot in the second. McKenzie Johnson led off with a double before advancing to third on a Bailee Bostic single. She would score on a groundout by Mea Adams. 

Alex Latoria singled to put two runners on as Brittany Hay came to the plate with two outs. The senior delivered with a 3-run home run to left field to put the Aces up 4-2. 

Just as fast as the Aces took the lead, Samford roared back with three runs in the top of the third with the big hit coming off the bat of Kathryn Johnson, who hit a 2-run single down the left field line. The Bulldogs scored at least one run in all seven innings as they took the win by a final of 11-5. Evansville’s final score came in the bottom half of the sixth when Eryn Gould hit an RBI double to right-center.

McKenzie Johnson went 3-3 with a run scored and walk in the game while Lindsay Renneisen added two hits of her own. Hay tied the game high with three runs batted in. Emily Lockhart made the start and gave up five runs, four earned, in 2 2/3 innings. Ashleigh Downing went three frames, allowing four runs, two of which were earned. Jaime Nurrenbern finished the game, throwing the final 1 1/3.

Game Two

Georgia plated a pair of runs in the second inning and that was all they would need as they finished with a 2-0 victory. Kendall Burton and Jordan Doggett each had RBI singles in the inning. Kylie Bass tossed the complete game shutout for the Bulldogs.

UE had three hits on the day, two coming off the bat of catcher Eryn Gould while Hay also had one. The best threat for the Aces came in the top of the fourth. Hay opened up with a single down the left field line. With one out, Gould laced a double to right, but UGA was able to get the final two outs to keep the game scoreless.

Next up for UE is a trip to the Frost Classic in Chattanooga, Tenn., next weekend.