3-9-21 by College Heights Herald

On-campus rape arrest leads to community outcry COLLEGE HEIGHTS

HERALD

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY SAM MALLON

Volume 96, Issue 20

EXPANDED STORY ON PAGE 3 OUR STANCE ON PAGE 4

Week of March 9, 2021

2 NEWS

Week of March 9, 2021

Business owners debate minimum wage increase

By Michael Crimmins

Business owners across the state differ in opinons on propsed $15 minimum wage. President Joe Biden, shortly after his inauguration, stated his administration’s desire to raise the national minimum wage to $15 by 2025, sparking debates both for and against the proposal. “It’s long past time we raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour,” Biden said in a tweet. This was in response to the current minimum wage being $7.25, which has remained stagnant since 2009, despite an increased cost of living. As of Feb. 26, the minimum wage provision had been removed from the relief package, but Democrats and Sen. Bernie Sanders have expressed a desire to introduce this idea as its own bill. Scott Lasley, head of the political science department, said that if the minimum wage were adjusted to inflation it would be about $8.70 right now. The plan for the increase would happen in stages over a number of years. Lasley said this is a complex economic issue with both positive and negative consequences. “The impact would vary significantly across regions of the country,” Lasley said. “It would take time to

achieve a new equilibrium.” Businesses that cannot make up the differences in cost would be forced to close their doors. Even businesses not directly involved in minimum wage would be affected indirectly, Lasley said. Lasley acknowledged that there are good effects that can come from an increase. “There is reason to believe that at least in the short term, an increase in minimum wage can lead to increased worker productivity,” Lasley said. Sweetheart Bakery, located in Glasgow, is one local business apprehensive of the president's proposition. Linda Young, owner of Sweetheart Bakery, reflected on the impact of the proposed increase in the minimum wage. “I’m for a better wage as long as the government takes care of small businesses like they said they’re going to,” Young said. She said that once the pay has been increased past the value of one’s product, in her case pastries, then it becomes a problem. “It’ll be hard to keep the doors open,” Young said. She said that she would love to pay her employees more, but it is not feasible without some form of government help. Young said that if lower taxes were on the table then that would be enough to help offset the increased

minimum wage. Another local figure, John Cox, businessman in Shelbyville, gave his opinion on the wage increase. “It should already be $15,” Cox said. “The cost of labor wouldn’t deter anyone serious from opening a business. You figure in labor and other expenses of business and adjust prices accordingly.” Cox said the purpose of minimum wage should be livable, above the poverty line, for anyone working 40 hours a week. He said his parents worked during college and graduated debt free. This is something he said is not possible today given the “exponential” rise of college and the stagnant. “It wouldn’t be a deal breaker if it [minimum wage] doubled,” Cox said. “It all washes out, and we know it all washes out.” When asked if he believed the

wage should be increased, he gave a resounding “absolutely.” There are some Democrats who are against Biden’s plan. Arizona Democrat Sen. Kyrsten Sinema said this push for a major increase could deal a “death blow” to any future efforts for the minimum wage if this should fall through. In total, seven Democrats have voiced their opposition to the increase. Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, who opposes such an increase, said this would hurt teens greatly. “When you make the wage above what the market dictates, more people lose their jobs,” Paul said in a WBKO article. “It’s one of those things that sounds good on the surface.” Michael Crimmins can be reached at michael.crimmins416@topper.wku. edu. Follow him on Twitter @michael_ crimm.

NEWS 3

Week of March 9, 2021

Bowling Green responds to on-campus rape By Laurel Deppen and Michael J. Collins

Editor’s note: This story contains reference to sexual violence and rape which could be disturbing to readers. If you’re a survivor of sexual violence, resources are available at the Counseling and Testing Center and the Title IX offices on campus and at Hope Harbor, a local sexual trauma recovery center. A Warren County judge found probable cause in the alleged rape of a woman in the Sigma Nu chapter house last week. The accused, Benjamin Massingille, will face a grand jury on March 23 under first-degree rape, sodomy and unlawful imprisonment charges. According to a police report released by WKUPD on Friday, Massingille allegedly invited the victim to an unsanctioned party held at Sigma Nu’s chapter house on Feb. 27. Massingille, who was intoxicated, bypassed the party and led the victim to his room, according to the report. She soon texted a friend to pick her up because she was uncomfortable. Massingille became enraged and proceded to hold her down and rape her, according to the report. The report states that multiple members of the fraternity entered and left the room. The victim’s friend soon arrived on the scene and both quickly left. The victim was transported to TriStar Greenview Hospital where an unnamed ER nurse told police the victim was experiencing lower abdominal, neck and rib pain and was “sore all over.” Police were made aware of the incident and issued a warrant for Massingille, who turned himself in on March 1, the report states. Sigma Nu suspended Massin-

gille’s membership pending the results of his trial, said Drew Logsdon, Sigma Nu’s national director of communications. WKU has since placed Sigma Nu under interim suspension pending an investigation into policy violations, according to Media Relations Director Bob Skipper. The incident sparked city- and campus-wide discussions, petitions and thousands of social media posts calling for action.

"The victim of this crime hasn’t come forward, but we’re there for her." -Sadie McFadden The university was made aware of the case hours after it happened, said Deborah Wilkins, Title IX coordinator. The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act prevents WKU from commenting on specific cases. “If anyone is concerned that there has not been a reaction, they need not be concerned,” Wilkins said. “There was a reaction, and it was virtually immediate.” Wilkins said as soon as incidents of assault are reported to the Title IX office, its hearing and investigation processes begin within 24 hours. Wilkins said every time an incident is reported, her office makes contact with the victim and the accused to begin the investigating and hearing processes, which is independent of the legal system. “We just don’t advertise it because it’s student information,” she

said. Since Massingille’s hearing on March 3, a group of local women formed the group CancelRapeCulture - BGKY. The group started a petition to revoke Massingille’s bond, which was set at $25,000. As of Monday, the petition received more than 21,000 signatures. Bowling Green resident Chelsey Mather went to the courthouse the morning of the hearing to protest. What she heard from Massingille’s lawyer was “disturbing,” she said, and it motivated her to create the petition. Mather runs Anything Goes, a Facebook group for Bowling Green women that covers a variety of topics. Someone shared the Massingille story in the group, and Mather said it sparked conversation that led to protesting that day. “It was overnight, it was like that,” Mather said. “Women were like ‘yes, let’s get behind this,’ ‘Let’s make something happen,’ and it just steamrolled from there.” Sadie McFadden, a member of Mather’s Facebook group, saw the post and wanted to get involved. She said the story made her angry, so she created flyers to post around campus with Massingille’s mugshot and phrases including “No bond for rapists,” and “Cancel rape culture.” “It tells people who haven't had a voice in the past that… there are people who will voice for you,” McFadden said. “The victim of this crime hasn’t come forward, but we’re there for her.” McFadden said she stood in front of the Sigma Nu house in protest after Massingille’s initial hearing. In the hour she was there, she said multiple people spoke to her about their thoughts on the incident, some even saying they were victims

of sexual violence. “I got people confessing to me their innermost feelings about it,” McFadden said. “That just shows that we need the community to have people talking about this and people seeing people talking about this. So that way, it's not a silent crime anymore. And we know that we're not alone.” Mather and McFadden then formed the CancelRapeCulture group, focused on creating more educational and preventative resources in the community. They are planning multiple marches ahead of Massingille’s grand jury hearing. “There’s no reason to sugarcoat it or try to dim it down,” Mather said. “We need to call it what it is and hold people accountable... Maybe if there was more preventative measures and education, maybe we wouldn’t have to hold as many people accountable.” Wilkins said she is going to recommend that she meets with each Greek organization annually. “I hear the outcry about the parties, and I totally agree that the Greek socials and the parties are a source of problem incidents,” Wilkins said. She said many instances happen at off-campus locations and to prevent assaults “we’re all going to have to be a little more responsible.” “We’re all responsible for each other’s safety,” Wilkins said. “Hilltoppers take care of Hilltoppers.”

Editor-in-Chief Laurel Deppen can be reached at laurel.deppen774@topper.wku.edu. Follow her on Twitter @laurel_deppen. Digital News Editor Michael J. Collins can be reached at michael. collins527@topper.wku.edu. Follow him on Twitter @MJCollinsNews.

4 COMMUNITY

Week of March 9, 2021

We can end victim blaming 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

When Ben Massingille, who will face a grand jury on rape charges later this month, stood before his initial hearing last week, his attorney asked the judge if he was aware that Massingille and the victim had previously had a sexual relationship. The attorney was seemingly implying that because there had been consent in previous interactions, what happened on Feb. 27, which led to Massingille’s arrest on rape, sodomy and imprisonment charges, was also consensual. The judge interrupted the attorney and noted that these details weren’t relevant to the probable cause of whether unconsensual sex occurred. The judge was right. That was irrelevant. The fact that the victim and Massingille had been involved before is irrelevant to the crime, and it draws attention to the larger issue of victim blaming. A “yes” once isn’t a “yes” for every time after that. The victim had every right to say no. That right was taken away from her. Victim blaming is something that almost exclusively happens to sexual assault victims. People are asked why they went to that party, why they wore what they wore — all questions that imply they should’ve known what would happen to them. When a car is stolen, we don’t ask its owner where it was parked. We don’t blame them for the type of car they drive, or say that since it looks like that it’s more likely to be stolen. This would be ridiculous. So why do we allow people to talk about sexual assault survivors like this?

GUNNAR WORD Chalk writing reading, "Cancel rape culture," lies scuffed out on the steps of Cherry Hall at the top of WKU's campus.

The Massingille case has shown that our campus needs to collectively reject victim blaming and stand for what is right. Consent needs to become more commonplace in our campus culture so that we can prevent incidents like this from happening again. We need to speak out when we see something. We need to hold each other accountable. This will

start when we stop allowing our friends and classmates to treat survivors this way — to treat people this way. It’s on us to change our language, to change how we communicate consent, and to change how we talk about these situations. It’s on each of us to make sure this doesn’t happen again.

FUN PAGE

WKU Herald 2/16/21 Trivia Puzzle

Herald 2/16/21 Crossword

Across

PuzzleJunction.com

History Assortment

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Sudoku Solution

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1. In what war did the Charge of the Light Brigrade occur? (a) Boer War (b) Crimean War (c) Franco-Prussian War 2. When did the U.S. formally adopt the 21-gun salute as its national and presidential salute? (a) 1875 (b) 1790 (c) 1858 3. Who was in charge of defending the Alamo? (a) Sam Bass (b) Jim Bowie (c) William Travis 4. Besides Abraham Lincoln who else was attacked and injured by John Wilkes Booth's men? (a) Andrew Johnson (b) William Seward (c) Roger Taney 5. How many wives did Henry VIII have? (a) 5 (b) 8 (c ) 6 6. In what year was the Gunpowder plot? (a) 1605 (b) 1855 (c) 1725 7. What was special about Louise Brown born in England in 1978? (a) First surviving separated conjoined twin (b) First test-tube baby (c) First surviving baby under 1 pound 8. What organization was awarded the Nobel Peace Price in 1944? (a) Red Cross (b) Unicef (c) International Office for Refugees 9. What was the most populated city in the world in 2000 B.C.? (a) Rome (b) Memphis (c) Athens 10. What South American revolutionary was known as El PuzzleJ Libertador? (a) Juan Peron (b) Ramon Puerta (c) Simon Bolivar

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PHOTO

CHEAP THRILLS

Racers head out to the track with their cheapest cars to compete to be "King of the Heap." A driver puts on his helmet to get ready to do laps at the National Corvette Museum Motorsports Park during the King of the Heap car race.

Spectators watch the cars lap the track during the King of the Heap event at the at the National Corvette Museum Motorsports Park.

A driver kicks up smoke before taking off to compete in an auto-crossing race during the King of the Heap races.

A driver finishes their auto-crossing run at the Na

As the smell of sound of screeching tir beat up cars – all value less – lined up as they w ticipate in the King of t National Corvette Muse Park on March 6. Sever around the track where waited to watch. Driver Spectators line up to watch auto-crossing at the National Corvette Museum Motorsports Park during King of the Heap auto-crossing races on March 6.

Week of March 9, 2021

ational Corvette Museum Motorsports Park during the King of the Heap race event on March 6.

f gas and the res fills the air, d at $1,000 or waited to parthe Heap at the eum Motorsports ral cars tore e a small crowd rs chatted with

friends while conducting last-minute tune ups. As races were about to begin, some even pushed their cars to the starting line of the track. There was a separate line across the lot for the auto crossing races, where cars sped through a course of turns and short straightaways outlined with safety cones.

Some drivers take a passenger on their ride or have cameras set up securely to capture their drive. An audience waits in a line by the start and finish, some previous competitors holding their helmets by their sides as they watch. Once a driver completes the short course, the car gets back in line to go through the course again or the driver switches.

People riding bikes and scooters weave around the lot between families who’ve set up chairs or tents with food on trailers to watch the events. As the day of racing comes to an end, the cars are secured onto trailers and the groups begin their trips home. PHOTOS AND WORDS BY ALLIE HENDRICKS

8 NEWS

Week of March 9, 2021

Fewer hybrid classes this spring than fall By Jacob Latimer

WKU courses continue to shift away from being hybrid and toward either fully in-person or online. When comparing the fall and spring semesters, there’s nearly a 4% drop in hybrid courses. WKU professors are given the option to hold their classes online, in person, or hybrid each semester. In the fall, the Herald reported that 40.1% of classes were online, 22.4% of classes were hybrid and 37.4% were in person. This semester, the number of hybrid classes dropped, while inperson and online classes slightly increased. Of the 3,686 courses held at WKU this semester, 42.4% are online, 18.9% are hybrid and 38.6% are in person. While most WKU professors

kept their courses the same over the semester change, some saw it as an opportunity to readjust. English professor David LeNoir decided to switch from having some hybrid classes last semester to having all of his classes fully in person this semester. “The determining factor was class size,” LeNoir said in a email. “I lucked out in the spring with small classes that I could run as fully faceto-face.” While online and hybrid teaching have been challenging for professors, LeNoir is thankful for the help he has received along the way. “The extent of the challenges we faced was seriously reduced by the proactive work of the provost’s office and CITL to provide us with the information and tools we needed to

Feeling lost or overwhelmed about your place in this world?

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deal with the changes,” LeNoir said. “And the folks in IT — especially the helpdesk — were incredibly helpful in dealing with the day-to-day surprises presented by some of the technology.” Biology professor Douglas McElroy kept his larger classes online this semester, even though he prefers teaching in-person classes. “Overall, I prefer in-person, because I like the dynamics and interaction aspects,” McElroy said. “But the fully online courses have gone well, and students have been equally, if not more, successful”. To McElroy, getting feedback from students in online classes has been his greatest challenge in teaching during the pandemic. Not only do professors of subjects like biology face troubles regarding the modality of their classes, they run into issues with labs too. Biology professor Scott Grubbs decided to hold his smaller labs and

classes in person but had to adjust the usual procedures for field labs. “Biology has a Sprinter [van] that is largely used for travel for field labs. Grubbs said. This was obviously not allowable, so students were required to drive to field lab localities.” As COVID-19 cases drop and vaccines continue to roll out, the number of in-person classes in colleges across the nation should rise. The University of Tennessee, Kent State University and Auburn University are just a few of many that have promised a traditional college experience for next year’s students. “With vaccine availability increasing each day, we are optimistic about a gradual return to normalcy during the next six months,” WKU President Tim Caboni said in a Healthy on the Hill message. Jacob Latimer can be reached at jacob.latimer745@topper.wku.edu. Follow him on Twitter @jacoblatimer_.

NEWS 9

Week of March 9, 2021

Local bike shops hit by pandemic-driven bike shortage By Ellie Tolbert

If you’re wanting to buy a new bicycle any time soon, you may have a hard time finding one. Throughout the U.S., bike shops have been running out of bikes. Cullum Howard, mechanic at Howard’s Cycling and Fitness, said there are a variety of reasons for this, all having to do with the pandemic. Howard said most bikes are manufactured in Taiwan and China. When the pandemic hit those countries, factories had to shut down due to workers out with COVID-19. There was no one to excavate the raw materials needed and no one to make the parts. “The supply chain was so disrupted,” Howard said. The worst of the bike shortage took place over the summer, during which Howard’s was selling out of bikes. Howard said they usually try to keep a supply of 350 bikes at one time, and over the summer they cleaned out 300 bikes in just two weeks. Howard would have to stay late at night to build bikes just to sell the next day. This disruption caused severe wait times for new parts, making it take longer for manufacturers to assemble the bikes. Howard said that over the summer there was a 300-to 400-day wait time in order to receive any new bikes. This created a problem when people would pre-buy bikes. “Companies would tell us that they would have bikes,” Howard said. “We would presell it but then be told we had to wait a year. We ended up having to give people their money back.” The shutdown of factories wasn't the only factor. Jacob Rex, graduate assistant at WKU’s Outdoor Recreation and Adventure Center and former employee of Trek Bikes in Memphis, said there was a boom in bike sales last summer. “It was a good time to be a bike mechanic,” Rex said. “We were backed up a year in orders. There were more

bikes to fix than ever.” Rex believes this rejuvenated love for cycling was brought on by the pandemic. People wanted to get out of the house, and cycling is a good outdoor activity. He said cycling clubs exploded over the summer. “There is an event in town called Trek at the Track where every Tuesday people ride bikes at the Corvette race track,” Rex said. “(Last summer) they had the most people they’ve ever seen at the race track.” Nat’s Outdoor Sports felt the effects of this as well. Isaac Phillips, manager at Nat’s, said bikes became one of their largest sources of revenue. Normally in a summer, bike sales make up 15-20% of their profit, Phillips said. Last summer, it was more like 70-80%. “There was a big bike fever at the same time as a bike shortage,” Phillips said. This caused problems when they ran out of bikes. Phillips said at the worst point in the shortage, they had about three or four bikes in the store. They usually try to keep 70 or 80 in the store at one time. Right now, Nat’s has 20-30 bikes in the store at any given time. With the weather being bad and no one buying bikes, they have been trying to catch up. Phillips said all the orders for the year have already been placed, and they won’t be able to do any special orders down the road. Howard’s is also recovering. Howard said while they weren’t making as much off regular bike sales, they found other avenues to make money. As a mechanic, he’s been buying old bikes to fix and resell for years. During the pandemic, the owner of Howard’s gave him permission to do that through the shop by using their funds and being on the clock. Along with bikes, Howard’s has locksmith services, that increasd during the shortage. When bike sales

slowed down, that area of business picked up the slack. “During the pandemic, people were overworked and frazzled, meaning they were losing their keys,” Howard said. “We were also putting locks on doors for quarantine rooms. We were still breaking even rather than being profitable.” Howard’s has bikes again, but not in the numbers they normally would have. Before they would receive shipments of 100 bikes at a time, now they only receive two or three. Although things are getting back to normal, there could still be trouble to come. Howard said that bikes for the next year are made in the middle of the year before. Bikes for 2020 were made in 2019. This means there could be a worse effect in 2022 and 2023. “There was a big stock of bikes in

2020 and some old 2019 bikes,” Howard said. “All those got sold.” Both Phillips and Howard said they do not know what to expect with bikes for the next year, but they are happy people are enjoying cycling again.

Managing Editor Ellie Tolbert can be reached at eleanor.tolbert618@topper.wku.edu. Follow her on Twitter @ eleanortolbert4.

“It was a good time to be a bike mechanic,” Rex said. “We were backed up a year in orders. There were more bikes to fix than ever.” -Jacob Rex

10 SPORTS

Week of March 9, 2021

Softball, baseball field seating faces capacity limits, excludes students despite fees By Nick Kieser

KEILEN FRAZIER

WKU defeated Indiana State University in the second game of the Hilltoppers classic to get their first win at home for the season 6-0.

JACK DOBBS

RHP Riley Boyd (26) makes a pitch to NDSU Infielder Charley Hesse (4) during the first game of WKU’s doubleheader against North Dakota on Feb. 22.

WKU’s ballparks have some new protocols this season, one year after the COVID-19 pandemic halted all spring sport activity. The spring seasons on the Hill have begun without students in attendance for the WKU baseball and softball programs. According to Associate Athletic Director of Ticket Sales Matt Morrison, teams have been limited to a list of 10 people who are close friends or family members. “We have a minimum number for baseball visiting teams, which is 10 tickets,” Morrison said. Morrison said for the Hilltopper baseball team there would be 20-30 tickets available for those friends and family who wish to attend a home game. The minimum number would be 10 as well for Lady Topper softball. The maximum capacity is set around 150-160 as of right now at Nick Denes Field. “Every school is going to be different within our conference,” Morrison said. “That’s just what Conference USA has mandated as the rule as of now.” Prior to baseball and softball season, WKU announced, due to limited capacity based on the state COVID-19 guidelines, there are no season tickets or walk-up sales at games this season. “I do hope the guidelines become more relaxed, because I do want to see a baseball game this season,” WKU senior Cole Carlson said. “I think around 20% capacity would be an amount to have which is about 300 fans.” According to the undergraduate catalog on WKU’s website, students pay a $218 athletic fee per semester, ultimately equating to $436 spent per student over the course of one

academic year. WKU’s Revenue and Expense Summary for 2020 reveals $3.2 million came directly from the student athletic fee. Carlson being in his final year at WKU did not know there was an athletic fee attached to his tuition rate. The revenue and expense report also shows $2.4 million was generated from ticket sales to WKU home games. “It does bother me a little bit that we are paying for that and don’t get to enjoy what we are partially paying for as a student body,” Carlson said. “But I also understand the precautions the university has to take.” Morrison said at the end of the day it’s just the pass list right now until some of the capacity restrictions have been lifted. Sean Meezy, a 1999 WKU graduate, said the athletic fee should be waived until students are allowed or have the option to attend baseball and softball at a bare minimum a pro rated fee. Meezy said WKU students will learn, if they have not already, that life is not fair. He said not being able to attend games is for the greater good. Although students cannot attend games, WKU Athletics stated on there would be a streaming schedule to be released. No such schedule has been released heading into the fourth week of the regular season. When students are allowed back into Nick Denes Field and the WKU Softball Complex, masks must be worn at all times and students must be socially distanced. Sports Editor Nick Kieser can be reached at nick.kieser036@topper. wku.edu. Follow Nick on Twitter at @ KieserNick.

SPORTS 11

Week of March 9, 2021

Do or die: Lady Toppers to play preliminary round By Drew Toennies

The Lady Toppers (7-15), (6-10, CUSA) were swept by the Old Dominion Monarchs (10-10), (7-9, C-USA) this past week at Chartway Arena in Norfolk, Virginia, in the regular season finale. In Thursday night’s competition, the Lady Toppers fell 55-53, and in Friday’s game, the Monarchs completed the sweep of WKU with a 57-55 final score. With the results of the series finale, the Lady Toppers are scheduled to face off against the Old Dominion Monarchs for a third time in the preliminary round of the 2021 Air Force Reserve Conference USA Tournament at the Ford Center in Frisco, Texas, to close out their 2020-21 season. “We’re gonna have to do a better job on the defensive boards,” head

coach Greg Collins said. “We’ve got to box out and we’ve got to make some shots. At the end of the day, we’ve got to get some of those layups in the basket.” The past series was played at Old Dominion’s home court of Chartway Arena. This time, WKU and Old Dominion will face off at the neutral court of the Ford Center to determine who advances to the next round and who goes home. “We’re gonna have two or three practices since that game and we’ll be a completely different team,” freshman Hope Sivori said. “Being on a neutral court could have an impact. It doesn’t matter where we’re at, we just have to play our best.” The winner of the preliminary round game between the two teams will advance to the next round to play

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the No. 3 seeded team North Texas on March 10 at 11:30 a.m. “I think we just have to play hard and fight for the first game,” junior Meral Abdelgawad said. “If we win, we keep playing. If we lose, the season would be over, and we don’t want the season to be over.” In Thursday night’s game, the Lady Toppers had one of their worst shooting performances in four games, shooting 35.3% from the field and 23% from the three-point range. In Friday’s game, the Lady Toppers had a strong first half but were unable to stop an 11-2 run from the Monarchs to close out the series. The Monarchs managed to keep WKU senior Raneem Elgedawy under control with 16 points in game one and 14 points in the second game. With a surprisingly quiet perfor-

mance from Elgedawy, Abdelgawad stepped up to lead the Lady Toppers with 12 points in both games to make up for Elgedawy’s absence. Old Dominion junior Ajah Wayne and senior Victoria Morris were the Monarchs’ best scorers Thursday, notching 17 points each in the 55-53 victory. Morris led all scorers in Friday’s game with 20 points. Junior Amari Young dropped 16 points in the 57-55 thriller. The Lady Toppers are scheduled to tip-off their preliminary round game against the Monarchs 4 p.m. Tuesday. Women’s basketball beat reporter Drew Toennies can be reached at drew.toennies900@topper.wku.edu. Follow him on Twitter @drew_toennies.

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Week of March 9, 2021

Hilltoppers set focus for C-USA Championship By Kaden Gaylord

After splitting the series in dramatic fashion with Old Dominion this past weekend, the WKU Hilltoppers can call themselves the Conference USA East Division champions and the overall regular season C-USA champions. This is WKU’s first regularseason championship since 2009, when the program was a part of the Sunbelt Conference. “We’ve played five games in nine days. The previous 30 days we played two games, it definitely wasn't easy,” head coach Rick Stansbury said. “It’s a new season. It’s a three-game season now. We’ll turn our focus to the next season — back-to-back-to-back, and we all know what's at stake in this season.” This year's conference tournament will be a little different with the addition of the divisions this season. The Hilltoppers will head into the conference tournament this year as the No. 1 seed in the East Division. Every team will be competing in this season’s tournament, unlike previous seasons when 12 of the 14 teams earned a spot. The Hilltoppers’ bracket consists of Southern Mississippi, Rice, Charlotte, Texas San Antonio, Marshall and Alabama-Birmingham. WKU will play the winner of the Charlotte and Texas San Antonio first-round matchup Thursday at 5:30 p.m. WKU has played Charlotte twice this season, splitting the opening series in conference play. WKU won the first game 67-63 but lost the second 75-71 in overtime. They have not played UTSA this season. “We’ll definitely be keeping up but I'm sure the coaches are going

to be doing their due diligence on scouting trying to get a quick report for us,” senior Carson Williams said. The Hilltoppers have been to the last two conference championship games, both ending in losses with a differential of six points or less. WKU battled for the conference regular season championship last year in a losing effort against North Texas before the postseason was canceled due to COVID-19. The 2021 regular season champions head into the tournament led by the three current members of the 1000-point WKU career club. Junior Charles Bassey has led the team in scoring, rebounds and blocks this year, averaging 18 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks. Senior Taveion Hollingsworth follows with 14 points, four rebounds and two assists. Senior Josh Anderson rounds out the double digit scoring with 10 points, four rebounds and two steals a game. “We’re playing for another championship — we got one out the way, now we got one more,” Hollingsworth said. “We got three games to play and you know we’re just gonna focus up and get ready for those.” What’s different between the previous Hilltopper teams that have made it to the championship game and this team is that this team has more depth. The additions of junior transfer Luke Frampton, sophomore Jordan Rawls, Williams, freshman Dayvion McKnight and senior Kenny Cooper has proven to be essential to a core of players that had to play 35 minutes or more every game after the injury to Bassey last season. If WKU makes it all the way to

the championship they will play Thursday at 5:30 p.m., Friday at 11 a.m. and Saturday at 8 p.m. Thursday’s matchup will be broadcast on Stadium while Friday and Saturday’s contests will be on the CBS Sports Network.

Men’s basketball beat reporter Kaden Gaylord can be reached at kaden.gaylord559@topper.wku. edu. Follow Kaden on Twitter at @_KLG3.

GUNNAR WORD WKU's Taveion Hollingsworth (11) attempts to trap Old Dominion's A.J. Oliver (11) in the corner during their game on March 5.