February 23, 2021 by College Heights Herald

Volume 96, Issue 18

Week of Feb. 23, 2021

COLLEGE HEIGHTS

Seated in

HERALD

Significance The instagram account Chairs of Western pushes the common chair into a new light for WKU students

PHOTO BY BRITTANY FISHER

STORY ON PAGE 9

2 NEWS

Week of Feb. 23, 2021

Homesickness and COVID-19: Obstacles for freshmen increase amid strange semester By Hannah Crisp

Walking into DSU during lunch can be an intimidating experience for many students. The small-fish-ina-big-pond feeling intensifies when students are alone in their venture. “Day-to-day you go, ‘Who am I going to eat lunch with? I don’t want to eat alone but who is there to eat with?’ and it’s very difficult,” said Trevor Champion, a first-year freshman from Paducah majoring in broadcast journalism. “I think for a lot of us, we’re so alone those first couple of weeks. There’s a lot of isolation and loneliness.” Freshman students uprooting their lives to move hours outside their comfort zones and away from

their parents for the first time causes a majority to struggle with homesickness. Homesickness is defined as “the distress or impairment caused by an actual or anticipated separation from home,” according to the Journal of American College Health. This causes a combination of depressive and anxious symptoms, withdrawal and difficulty focusing on anything unrelated to home. A mild form, according to the same study, allows development of coping skills and healthy attachment behaviors, such as keeping in touch with family. However, the university environment compels students’ need to feel accepted, and when this is not easily or immediately met, intense

homesickness can result. One in three freshman students develop mental health issues such as anxiety or depression from homesickness, according to a study in the Journal of Affective Disorders. WKU hosts more than 3,000 first-year students, according to Ethan Logan, the vice president for Enrollment and Student Experience. Nationwide, there are nearly 20 million first-year freshmen, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. “At first, homesickness was definitely a thing, and it was a hard issue,” Champion said. “I’ve never had the opportunity to be away from my parents for a long time, so those first couple weeks were rough. I missed my parents, I called them a lot to

start off with.” Little experience away from home is a common risk factor for intense homesickness, according to a study on college freshmen in the Journal of American College Health. Other risk factors include high perceived distance from home, high dependence on family, insecure attachment to parents or unsupportive parenting. “I think there will always be that burdensome beginning,” Champion said. “It’s going to be tough for everyone coming in because so many people are used to that comfortability.” Even WKU students from Bowling Green have struggled with homesickness. “It doesn’t matter where you’re

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NEWS 3

Week of Feb. 23, 2021 from, homesickness is big in freshmen,” said Peggy Crowe, director of the WKU Counseling Center. “Anything new is an adjustment. We need to teach all humans that we need to feel all our emotions, regardless of age.” Intense homesickness and mental health issues have been shown to negatively affect students’ grades. A study in the Journal of Affective Disorders found that year-long mental health issues among freshmen were associated with a 0.2-0.3 GPA reduction. Crowe said the changes from high school to college are drastic and students underestimate the changes in workload. Studies tend to see a correlation between mental health and academic performance, though the relation is not well understood. Intense homesickness can, however, lead to a withdrawal from classes. Champion said high school was “a breeze” for him, and he didn’t need

to study for tests. “Everything just came to me, and I had good grades,” Champion said. He added teachers expect more from students in college. “The realization that, ‘Shoot, I have to actually work for my grade,’ was a big difference.” Covid-era freshmen face adjustment challenges unexplored by previous classes. Major changes in campus life and class modalities were made in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Psychologists fear an increase in loneliness and isolation in college students due to the new challenges, according to the New York Times. “Many freshmen are frustrated about changes in class modalities; they miss face-to-face interaction,” Crowe said. “Students are already experiencing anxiety or depression typically adjusting to college in addition to COVID-related stress.” Students are forced to wear masks and remain 6 feet apart, making it

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March 1-5

harder to find connection. When students lack a sense of belonging, feelings of isolation increase. Homesick students crave the social connection and belonging from home. Being involved in university life and creating connections aids in the adjustment process, studies show. This is difficult in the COVIDera when most clubs and classes meet over Zoom, and group gatherings are discouraged by university officials. “I’m a person that values time with others, so I’m not a fan of classes being online,” Champion said. He added he’s hopeful the diversity in class modalities will be a valuable tool for schools around the country. “It’s definitely a challenge, but teachers are trying their best for us,” Champion said. Positive outlook and adjustments to life away from home promotes resilience, nurtures new friendships

and prepares young adults for success in the future, according to the Journal of American College Health. “We have to approach it with a learning attitude, it will prepare you for the next transition,” Crowe said, encouraging students to be openminded. “This is not what we wanted your freshman year to be, but we’re doing the best we can.” Champion said that though the transition to WKU was hard, it gets better. “Western doesn’t feel like a second home." Champion said. "It feels like home, which is something I didn’t expect but it’s happy to think that it’s the truth.” Copy Desk Chief Hannah Crisp can be reached at hannah.crisp909@ topper.wku.edu. Follow her on Twitter @hnhelizabeth.

4 COMMUNITY

Week of Feb. 23, 2021

On Student Press Freedom Day: Stop suing the Herald By Herald Editorial Board

Print edition published weekly by WKU Student Publications at Western Kentucky University. First copy: free | Additional copies: $1

EDITORIAL BOARD

Laurel Deppen Editor-in-chief Ellie Tolbert Managing editor Nick Fuller Digital director Lily Burris Assignment editor Michael J. Collins Digital news editor Nick Kieser Sports editor

Loren Gaskin Community editor Gabi Broekema Sam Mallon Multimedia editors Zachery McClain Social media manager Megan Fisher Design editor Hannah Crisp Copy desk chief

OTHER LEADERS AND ADVISERS Robin Robinson Distribution manager Brian Kehne Advertising manager Emma Spainhoward Cherry Creative director

Carrie Pratt Herald adviser Will Hoagland Advertising adviser Chuck Clark Student Publications director

POLICIES

Opinions expressed in the College Heights Herald are those of student editors and journalists and do not necessarily represent the views of WKU. Student editors determine all news and editorial content, and reserve the right to edit or reject submissions.

REPORT AN ERROR: herald.editor@wku.edu 270-745-5044 NEWSROOM: herald.news@wku.edu 270-745-2653 or 270-745-5044 ADVERTISING: herald.advertising@wku.edu 270-745-6285 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: herald.opinion@wku.edu ON CAMPUS: Adams-Whitaker Student Publications Center, 1660 Normal St. ONLINE: WKUHerald.com NEWSLETTER: WKUHerald.com/newsletter SOCIAL MEDIA: • Twitter: @wkuherald, @wkuheraldsports • Facebook, Instagram: WKUHerald • YouTube: wkuheraldvideo • Tiktok: wkuherald

Student Press Freedom Day is celebrated on Feb. 26 to honor the work that student-run publications do to keep their community safe and informed. The following day, Feb. 27, will mark the four-year anniversary of WKU’s lawsuit against the College Heights Herald that continues to prevent the release of sexual misconduct records. This lawsuit now spans generations of Herald staffers. No one who works with us now was here when the lawsuit began in February 2017. It is something that has become so commonplace, so pervasive, so part of the daily grind, that it’s become just another fact, and we forget to notice it. The universal truths: The Herald comes out on Tuesday. The university is suing us. But this fact is shocking. It’s bizarre. The university has been in an active lawsuit against its independent student newspaper, the College Heights Herald, for four years. In November 2016, the Herald

requested Title IX-related records, including investigations of university employees for sexual misconduct involving students. WKU refused. WKU claimed the release of the records would “significantly stifle complaints from reporting sex and/ or gender-based discrimination.” The records the Herald sought would redact any student-identifying information. Every public university in the state complied with this request other than WKU and Kentucky State University. The Herald appealed WKU’s decision to the attorney general’s office, which enforces the Kentucky Open Records Act. Andy Beshear, then attorney general, ordered that WKU had violated Kentucky’s Open Records Act and must release the records. Instead, WKU sued the Herald to overturn Beshear’s order. What does this say about protecting students? Student Press Freedom Day reminds us that this is not something to be forgotten. The press is something so vital to a democratic society that the framers of the U.S. Constitution named it specifi-

cally in the First Amendment. So important, that the freedom of the press is enumerated next to some of the most core American values: the freedoms of religion and speech. Throughout our history, journalism has been the vehicle of holding officials accountable, enriching communities and broadening perspectives on federal and local levels. And yes, even student communities. The Herald’s request was compliant with the Open Records Act, as stated by the state’s former attorney general. With student names and all identifying information redacted, all that would be left are faculty members who are investigated for sexual misconduct against students. If students aren’t identified, who is really being protected? Student press freedom isn’t only about protecting media organizations and journalists. It’s about protecting an institution’s students. Student journalism holds officials accountable and gives the student body voice. It informs, and it educates — what higher education is all about. PHOTO BY CARRIE PRATT

A student shows off their graduation cap art in the Adams-Whitaker Student Publication Center located on WKU’s campus on May 10, 2019.

FUN PAGE

WKU Herald 2/23/21 Trivia Puzzle

U Herald 2/23/21 Crossword

Across

PuzzleJunction.com

Colorful Geography

1. What Asian country's capital city translates in English to 'Red Hero'? (a) Kyrgyzstan (b) Mongolia (c) Cambodia 19 2. The middle of Australia is sparsely populated and arid. What is this area called? 23 24 (a) The Brown Centre (b) The Yellow Centre (c) The Red Centre 3. What is the name of the missile testing site in New Mexico? (a) White Sands (b) Coral Sands (c) Black Sands 4. What Iranian village has a name suited to clothing of Army 31 32 33 34 recruits? (a) Drab (b) Khaki (c) Camoflage 5. Who named Greenland? 40 (a) Eric the Red (b) King Christian IV (c ) Leif Ericson 6. What is the longest river in South Africa? 44 45 (a) Blue (b) Rose (c) Orange 7. What U.S. state has a town named Purple Sage? 49 (a) Wyoming (b) Nevada (c) Arizona 8. Which1of the following is an area in Scotland? TWKU Herald 2/23/21 Sudoku P 54 (a) The Blue Isle (b) The Black Isle (c) The White Isle 9. Where are the Chartreuse Mountains? WKU Herald579/8/20 1 (a) Spain (b) Italy (c) France PuzzleJ 58 Sudoku 59 10. What is the Green Mountain State? (a)ToNew Hampshire (b) Vermont Connecticut 65 66 solve the Sudoku puzzle, (c) each row, column and

box must contain the numbers 1 to 9.

To solve the Sudoku puzzle, each row, column and box must contain the numbers 1 to 9.

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Colorful Geography

week of 02/09/2021 crossword solution:

1 9 6 7 5 4 8 2 4 6 8 1 4 1 3 9 16 2 3

zstan (b) Mongolia (c) Cambodia le of Australia is sparsely populated and arid. What a called? rown Centre (b) The Yellow Centre (c) The Red Centre he name of the missile testing site in New Mexico? Sands (b) Coral Sands (c) Black Sands ian village has a name suited to clothing of Army

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(b) Khaki (c) Camoflage ed Greenland? e Red (b) King Christian IV (c ) Leif Ericson he longest river in South Africa? b) Rose (c) Orange . state has a town named Purple Sage? ing (b) Nevada (c) Arizona the following is an area in Scotland? lue Isle (b) The Black Isle (c) The White Isle e the Chartreuse Mountains? (b) Italy (c) France he Green Mountain State? ampshire (b) Vermont (c) Connecticut

1 “Polythene ___” (Beatles song) 18 17 4 Multivitamin 22 20 21 supplement 8 California’s San 26 27 28 25 ___ Bay 13 Made a 29 30 touchdown 38 39 35 36 37 15 Pews’ place 16 Once more 42 43 41 17 Lady Macbeth, e.g. 48 46 47 18 Prepare to 53 50 51 52 swallow 19 Wheel on a spur 55 56 20 Martial art 22 Sheet music 63 64 60 61 62 symbol 69 70 71 67 68 24 Foxy 25 Hoosier humorist 72 73 74 26 Camel hair fabric 28 Kind of tax 76 77 75 29 Face-to-face Copyright ©2021 PuzzleJunction.com exam 30 Vine support 9 I, to Claudius 67 Drudgery 39 Pantheon member 35 Frock 69 Popeyed 10 Birds noted for 43 Something to spin 38 Harbor craft 71 Habit thievery 44 Vision 40 Poker ploy 11 Cambodian 72 Thin pancakes 47 Perpetrator 41 Part of the eye money 73 No ___ thing 51 Darjeeling or 42 Be theatrical 74 Apple’s apple, e.g. 12 Orbison tune, oolong 45 What icicles do “___ the Lonely” 52 Needle 75 Source of strength 46 Excavation find 14 Two-year-old 76 Candidate’s goal continuously 48 Calendar square 77 Supporting sheep 54 Pertinent 49 How Phileas 21 Wide’s partner 57 Standoffish Fogg traveled 23 Knight’s title 58 Vernacular Down 50 Falsehood 27 Astringent 59 Part filler 53 Like Jack Sprat’s substance 60 Terra ___, finely 1 Winter wear diet 29 Walking ___ 2 One way to read pulverized 55 Grassy area 31 Weighed down 3 Pooh’s creator gypsum 56 Medium claim 4 Sit on eggs 32 Turkish dough 61 Misses 57 Chicken ___ king 5 Encouraging word 33 Mother of Horus 62 Waist circlers 60 Before now 34 Fall mo. 64 Fit of fever 6 Walkie-talkie 63 Prefix with legal word 35 Know-it-all 66 Punching tool 65 Leaning to the 36 Pizzeria fixture 68 Formula ___ 7 Most up-to-date right 37 Whip mark 70 Wood sorrel 8 Associate

Solution

6.c 7.a 8.b 9.c 10.b

1.b 2.c 3.a 4.b 5.a

PHOTO

WKU students sled down the hill outside of Van Meter Hall after the first snowfall of Winter Storm Uri. Students grabbed cardboard, pans, and even the tailgate of a truck to use as sleds, for some students last week was the most snow they had ever seen. BRITTANY FISHER

Winter storms swept through Bowling Green last week, accumulating five inches of snow, according to the Bowling Green-Warren County Regional Airport. With Monday and Tuesday declared official snow days by the WKU administration, students took to the Hill and spent their day frolicking in the winter weather. Using whatever they could find — storage bin containers, broken satellite dishes and blow up mattresses — students took advantage of their Hilltopper status and went sledding, having more fun going up and down the Hill than usual. A sheet of icy precipitation remains but is expected to melt as we move into the week with temperature highs in the 50s. COPYBLOCK BY SAM MALLON

Week of Feb. 23, 2021

SLIPPERY SLOPES Students enjoyed sliding around the slippery slopes of the Hill on WKU's snow days this past week.

Bowling Green citizens and Hilltoppers alike were snowed in the week following Valentine's Day. It took several days for many cars to make it out of the layers of snow and ice holding them in place. Eventually, the sun came out and started melting the wintery precipitation. ZANE MEYER-THORNTON

[TOP]: Shelby Gillim sleds down the sidewalk on Main Ave. on Feb. 15. Bowling Green woke up to snow on Monday, and WKU canceled both in-person and virtual classes for Monday and Tuesday. [BOTTOM]: Sledders cross Park St. on Feb. 15. Bowling Green woke up to snow and ice on Monday, Feb. 15, with the weather coming as part of a larger system that swept the Southern United States over the weekend. JACK DOBBS WKU student snowboards as other students cheer her on her way down the Hill in front of Van Meter Hall on Feb. 15. A snow and ice storm swept through Bowling Green leading WKU to cancel virtual and in-person classes. MEGAN FISHER

8 NEWS

Week of Feb. 23, 2021

'A place in my heart:' Professor on 38 years at WKU By Henri Aboah

Saundra Starks, one of the top three-longest working professors at WKU, has dedicated 38 years of service to the social work program, but her journey at WKU started before her employment here. Starks’ journey at WKU started in 1966 when she attended as a student. She received her undergraduate degree in sociology with an emphasis in social welfare. During her time as a student, Starks was a part of the largest group of African Americans that entered the university. “Western Kentucky University has always had a place in my heart,” she said. She completed her graduate work in 1977 and her doctoral work in 1999 at the University of Louisville.

"There was a program called Junior Black Faculty program which allowed us to get rapport to complete our doctorates,” Starks said. “I took advantage of that opportunity and completed my doctorate work at the University of Louisville with the support of WKU and returned to my position as a senior track faculty member.” Dean May is one of Stark's colleagues in the social work department. “My favorite quality about Saundra is how much I have learned from her regarding diversity, cultural competence and social justice,” May said. “She has made me a better social worker, educator and person.” Before becoming a full-time professor, Starks was a social work practitioner for eight years while teaching part time. Now as full-time professor, Starks said she is still a social worker.

“My first eight years as an employee at WKU I actually worked as a therapist counselor in the counseling center,” Starks said. The Kentucky native’s favorite part about working at WKU and being a professor include being instrumental in developing educational programs, working with a great team of colleagues, and the ability to mentor and to contribute to the future social work. Monica Hines has been a friend and colleague to Starks. Hines also works in the social work department. “Her contributions to the profession are immeasurable. Dr. Starks has had a seat at many necessary tables and ensures to include men and women,” Hines said. “She has been recognized on a national and international level. Dr. Starks has been the chairperson of the Community

Kwanzaa Celebration, Juneteenth Celebration, and other significant events for our community and always ensures that others have a seat at the table as well.” To add to her resume, Starks was also one of the creators and is the director of the Master of Social Work graduate program at WKU. The program prepares students for professional social work at the graduate level. With the numerous accomplishments Starks has achieved so far, she said "my passion for social work, the clients we serve, the students that we help develop, and the ability to be a change agent" motivates her to continue to do more. Henri Aboah can be reached at aronie.aboah179@topper.wku.edu Follow her on Twitter @HenriAboah

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P E AC E C O R P S .G OV/ WO R K

NEWS 9

Week of Feb. 23, 2021

Instagram account glorifies the common chair

BRITTANY FISHER

The Chairs of Western Instagram page posted a green chair on Jan. 21, what they called "a timeless classic." Pictured is the same chair in the color red.

By Gabi Broekema

“Wood. Clean lines. FAC.” was the caption on the first post of the up-andcoming Instagram account, Chairs of Western. The account posted a picture of an older chair with a pale brown wooden frame and light blue cushions in a bricklined hallway of the Fine Arts Center on WKU’s campus on Jan. 16. WKU students took notice throughout the next week as more posts of quirky chairs from all over campus began to pop up on the account’s feed. Posts featuring chairs such as the olive-colored metal and hard plastic classic in the stairwell of Grise Hall to a modernistic, sleek bench spotted in Ogden Hall began to flood students’ Instagram feeds. According to a post on Jan. 24, only eight days after its debut, the account accumulated 500 followers and has since gained over a thousand followers. The owner, a sophomore journalism major who asked to remain anonymous, was inspired by another small Instagram account, @chairs.only, which posts

pictures of artistic chairs. The account caused them to start noticing unique chairs around campus. “I just thought it was kind of funny and interesting, and kind of unique,” Chairs of Western said. “I really did not think it would take off the way it did.” They said their love for interesting chairs and mid-century modern architecture comes from their childhood. Their mother always had lots of vintage furniture around her house, they said. The account provides Chairs of Western an outlet to share the love for midcentury modern architecture they were lucky enough to experience growing up. Chairs of Western not only promotes a general awareness of the commonly used items but also encourages followers to join in the fun too. In fact, the most liked post on the page, with 299 likes from Feb. 3, is of a follower’s submission of a sculpted wooden back and armrests held in place by reflective metal beams that form the legs, connected by a burnt orange cushion as the seat. The promotion for the followers to send in their own finds creates a sense of a safe community.

Kevin Reagen, a junior psychology major from Bowling Green, said on Instagram messaging he discovered the account at only 100 followers and was the first commenter on the first few posts, jokingly commenting grades on each of the chairs. “I love student-run pages like this,” Reagan said. “I thought it was a joke, but once they started posting more chairs I found it funny.” Hannah Tucker, a junior interdisciplinary studies major from Lexington, found the account through a friend’s Instagram story who reposted a post of one of the chairs. “It made me laugh!” Tucker said in an Instagram message. “Plus, it’s fun to see all the different chairs in places on campus I don’t normally go.” Hailey Armstrong, a senior theater major from Nashville, found the account the same way as Tucker. “(It’s) like a scavenger hunt,” Armstrong said in an Instagram message. “I’m looking through them and I’m thinking, ‘Oh, yeah! I’ve seen that one!’” The posts provide quick relief from the daily grind, whether it be a break from the aggressive assaults of news flowing through Instagram feeds or

helping a student crack a smile as they spot one of the featured beauties while rushing to their next class. “I did think that a small group of people at Western would enjoy it,” Chairs of Western said. “So that's the only reason I really started.” The anonymity of the account owner has added a level of intrigue and mystery to the situation. This caused many students to calculate who would come up with the idea to start the account in the first place, and why they would want to stay in the dark. Chairs of Western chose to respond, believing their identity was not of importance — the chairs are what the account is about. “I don’t see the point in that,” Chairs of Western said. “Maybe if I get sick of trying to hide it.” Multimedia Editor Gabi Broekema can be reached at gabriella.broekema128@topper.wku.edu. Follow her on Instagram at @glbvisuals.

BRITTANY FISHER

The owner of the Chairs of Western instagram page poses for an anonymous portrait. The chair the owner is sitting in is the first chair the page ever posted.

10 SPORTS

Week of Feb. 23, 2021

WKU to play No. 6 Houston, host FIU as season nears end By Kaden Gaylord

As announced Sunday afternoon, WKU will head to Houston to play the Cougars in a late-season, non-conference matchup. The game is possible because the Hilltoppers are multiple games below the NCAA maximum of 27, due to a postponed Conference USA series. The Cougars (18-3), (12-3, AAC) are currently ranked sixth in the country after losing this past week to Wichita State 68-63, but rebounded against Cincinnati, winning 90-52. The Hilltoppers are 1-3 all-time against Houston. The teams last met in WKU’s 74-72 home loss on Feb. 9, 2010. Houston is led by its experienced trio of guards: junior Quentin Grimes, sophomore Marcus Sasser and senior DeJon Jerreau. Combined, they account for 41 of the team’s average of 75 points a game. Its only ranked win of the year was a 64-53 victory against Texas Tech at the beginning of the season. Like WKU, Houston had at least six games canceled or postponed this season. The Hilltoppers and Cougars will square off Thursday evening at 6 p.m. in Houston. The game will be broadcasted on ESPN2. WKU (15-4), (8-2, C-USA) will then return home for the first of the final two series of the regular season. Florida International (9-15), (2-13, C-USA) will make its way to the Hill after splitting the series last year with WKU. This year, the Panthers have had a rough season after starting 4-0. They currently sit at the bottom of the CUSA East standings and are five games below a .500 win percentage. The only two victories FIU has inconference came against Old Dominion and Middle Tennessee, winning

both games by 10 or more points. Since the victory against the Blue Raiders, FIU has lost 13 of its last 14 games, most recently losing to the Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles. Due to COVID-19 issues with Southern Miss, the two-game series was not completed. As of Monday, it’s unknown if the Hilltoppers will play the Panthers, as they wait to see if the FIU program has any positive COVID cases after coming in contact with Southern Mississippi. FIU is led by junior guard Antonio Daye, Jr. who averages 17 points with 4.7 assists and 2.4 steals a game. The two other players who average doubledigit points are seniors Radshad Davis with 13 a game and Eric Lovett with 11 a game. Despite losing several games, the Panthers have one of the best scoring offenses in the conference, putting up 71 points a game. Where they struggle is on the defensive end, as they have the worst defense in the conference. Though they average 71 points a game, they give up 75.5 a game to their opponents. FIU sits at 10th in the conference in field goal percentage and allows teams to shoot 46% a game, the second worst in the conference. The Panthers are the lone team that defends the ball worse from behind the arc than WKU does. Because WKU added the Houston game, the FIU series had to be pushed back. Both games take place in Diddle Arena with Sunday afternoon’s tip-off starting at 2 p.m. and Monday’s at noon. Both games will be broadcasted on ESPN+ and will also be broadcasted through WKU PBS. Men’s basketball beat reporter Kaden Gaylord can be reached at kaden.gaylord559@topper.wku.edu. Follow Kaden on Twitter at @_KLG3.

MEGAN FISHER WKU senior Taveion Hollingsworth (11) dunks the ball during the game against the Rice Owls on Feb. 13 in Diddle Arena.

PRESTON ROMANOV Senior Josh Anderson (4) goes for a dunk late in the first half against Rice on Feb. 11. WKU had not played in a game in 19 days prior to a 77-71 win over the Owls.

SPORTS 11

Week of Feb. 23, 2021

Lady Toppers travel to Florida this weekend

By Drew Toennies

The Lady Toppers (6-12), (5-7, CUSA) were scheduled to host the North Texas Mean Green (8-2), (11-4, C-USA) at home this past weekend, but due to hazardous winter weather conditions in Bowling Green, the series was postponed indefinitely. Due to the cancelation, the next opponent on the Lady Toppers’ conference slate is the FIU Lady Panthers (10-10), (7-7, C-USA). The Lady Panthers split their latest series at Southern Miss. FIU won 59-58 in overtime last Friday and lost 76-60 last Saturday. Redshirt junior Jiselle Thomas led the Lady Panthers in scoring over the weekend, notching 40 points. There are several aspects of the Panthers' offense that will provide a challenge for the Lady Toppers in their next series.

Thomas is one of FIU’s strongest offensive performers who regularly averages 16.1 points per game, has scored as many as 322 points this season, and is ranked 13th among the conference’s top offensive performers. Thomas’ best offensive performance this season was in FIU’s conference series against the UTEP Miners, where she scored 27 points. Another player that carries the Panthers' offense is senior Kyla Nelson, who averages 14.8 points per game and has scored 267 points this season. Nelson’s greatest performance this season was in a conference series against the Old Dominion Monarchs where she dropped 27 points. The Lady Toppers' best offensive performer is senior Raneem Elgedawy, who carries WKU’s offense with 22.4 points per game and 224 points scored this season. Elgedawy tied her career-

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high of 29 points in WKU’s last series against Rice. Another player performing well offensively is freshman Hope Sivori, who averages 10.2 points per game and has dropped 183 points through the hoop in her first season at WKU. Sivori’s career-high is 23 points, which she scored in a conference game against the Louisiana Tech Lady Techsters. WKU senior Fatou Pouye is another excellent offensive performer at the Lady Toppers’ disposal. Pouye averages 10.1 points per game and has scored 181 points this season. Pouye’s best game this season was against Louisiana Tech where she scored 21 points. The Lady Toppers will travel to Miami this weekend to tip off against the FIU Panthers at FIU Arena. Friday night’s matchup is scheduled for a 6 p.m. tip off time. Saturday’s game will tip off at 3 p.m. to conclude the series.

Women’s basketball beat reporter Drew Toennies can be reached at drew. toennies900@topper.wku.edu. Follow him on Twitter @drew_toennies.

ALLIE HENDRICKS WKU guard Myriah Haywood (0) moves to score a basket at the game at Diddle Arena on Feb. 5. WKU won 71-64.

12 SPORTS

Week of Feb. 23, 2021

Expectations for WKU ahead of C-USA Championship By Nick Kieser

at times shown his sense of frustration after a tough series. Spring sports have arrived. Well, After splitting a series on the road most spring sports have arrived. It at Marshall and sweeping Charlotte, seems Mother Nature and the snow the Lady Toppers started to look like caused some delays. a potential contender ahead of the WKU baseball had to delay its home C-USA Championship. Senior Raneem opener, and the soccer program missed Elgedawy is to thank for that, averaging the past two weeks due to inclement 22 points per game. Since she returned weather. The men’s and women’s bason Jan. 14, the Lady Toppers are 4-6 — ketball programs had shutdowns due to it could have been worse had she not the snow over the weekend too. returned. There are two weeks left for basketAs for the Hilltopper basketball ball, and having a week off isn’t what team, they have been deprived of games helps consistency prior to the postsea— only playing four games in two weeks son. due to postponements or cancelations. WKU’s men’s basketball has been a Since Jan. 23, WKU has played in successful team on the hardwood this four games and had four postponed, but season, going 15-4 and 8-2 in Conferthe winning streak is alive and well. The ence USA play. The young Lady Toppers six-game streak has been active after a have battled through their season, going loss back on Jan. 9 against LA Tech. 6-12 overall with a 5-7 C-USA record. WKU was supposed to play Florida of games, it is generally preferred to The Lady Toppers happen to be a Atlantic and the reigning 2019-20 younger team this year with six freshregular season champions North Texas keep playing every week and grind out the season. men. This is no small task to master. Mean Green. Although it doesn’t seem The program announced its first Head Coach Greg Collins has been the team is having an issue with the lack positive COVID case won Feb. 5 and has impressed with the youngsters but has since struggled to practice as a group. The struggle didn’t appear to phase the Hilltoppers when Rice came to town Feb. 12-13, sweeping the two-game set. The biggest question: how will this team finish the regular season? The C-USA tournament is the biggest goal, but it’s evident that’ll be a hump for the team to get over. Junior big-man Charles Bassey is in the conversation for the Naismith National Defensive Player of the Year. Seniors Josh Anderson and Taveion Hollingsworth are at his disposal in games as well. Redshirt junior Luke Frampton is also a sharpshooter from deep to assist WKU. While this team is deep with upperclassmen, one freshman has made a statement here in the past few weeks. MEGAN FISHER Freshman Dayvion McKnight scored WKU teammates Taveion Hollingsworth (11) and Charles Bassey (23) cheer from the sidelines his career-high 21 points in the first during the game against the Rice Owls on Feb. 13 in Diddle Arena.

PRESTON ROMANOV Junior Charles Bassey (23) defending Rice's sophomore Max Fiedler on Feb. 11. Bassey picked up his 12th double-double of the season as the Hilltoppers won 77-71 to open the weekend series.

game of the season, and since then he’s fallen well into the team-player mentality. Against Rice, he had 18 assists in the double-header while scoring 14 points. Overall, he has a team-leading 72 assists on the season while also being a physical force driving the ball. He’ll be someone to watch as his career has just begun at WKU. Expectations are high for the men, and the group will need to dominate the next two weeks. It'll be all gas and no breaks for the Hilltoppers heading into the C-USA postseason. An at-large bid looms for this program if they go all the way, and that’ll make March even more interesting for spring sports at WKU. Perhaps a win at No. 6 Houston on Thursday will cement the Hilltoppers’ way into the NCAA Tournament. Sports Editor Nick Kieser can be reached at nick.kieser036@topper. wku.edu. Follow Nick on Twitter at @ KieserNick.