Issuu

SUN FLOWER

the

WSU’s Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers preps for Noche de Ciencias | PAGE 3

VOLUME 120, ISSUE 43

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2016

THESUNFLOWER.COM

THE STREAK IS OVER

Photo by Manny De Los Santos

Senior Ron Baker reacts in the final minutes against Northern Iowa on Saturday at Charles Koch Arena. The Panthers ended the Shockers’ 43-game, home-winning streak by a score of 53-50. Baker finished the night with 12 points and was held scoreless in the second half.

Panthers break nation’s best home-winning streak EVAN PFLUGRADT

SPORTS EDITOR @evpflu

Northern Iowa guard Matt Bohannon has a knack for crashing parties. Bohannon, now in his senior season, has claimed his fair share. The Panthers upset a No. 1 North Carolina team earlier this season, and a month later they took down then No. 5 Iowa State. It’s been an epic roller coaster of a season for Bohannon, but one victory stood looming on his list — a win at Charles Koch Arena. “Wes, Paul and I were talking earlier; we haven’t won here,” Bohannon said. “They had the nation’s longest home winning-streak. That adds even more to it.”

The Panthers defeated WSU 53-50, ending the nation’s longest home winning-streak of 43 games. “It takes a total group effort, a bunch of guys who care about each other and want to do it together,” Bohannon said. “Today you saw nine guys who wanted it more.” The Wichita State duo of Ron Baker and Zach Brown mounted a quick four-point advantage over the Panthers, combining for 12 points in the first five minutes of play. Anton Grady came off the bench to contribute four points with back-toback baskets, though the Panthers kept pace offensively. With a one-point lead, Baker stepped back for a three-pointer, the ball

caught the bottom of the net “For us to lose like a 12-0 run over WSU as and Koch Arena intensely the first half expired. UNI this at home, we shook with delight — held an 11-point advantage feel disappointed at the break. Carlson led enough to compete with a 5.1-magnitude earthquake in in ourselves. We with 10 points on 4-5 feel disappointed shooting. northwest Oklahoma that shivered through the UNI senior Wes Washfor letting Wichita area. pun flushed a dunk early in Wichita down.” Baker continued to post the second half and the RON BAKER big numbers; he cleaned up a Panthers comfortably held Redshirt senior missed three by Fred a 15-point lead. VanVleet for 12 first-half points. With VanVleet looked up at the scoreboard less than four minutes left in the half, and saw only one thing — his 43-game the Shockers held a one-point lead over home winning-streak slipping away. Ben Jacobson’s group. The three-year streak VanVleet Foul calls against WSU let the helped build was not one he would Panthers come storming back. willingly hand over. A three-pointer from UNI sophomore forward Klint Carlson extended SEE STREAK • PAGE 4

Student Health Services New royalty crowned to cap-off homecoming week to offer free STI testing CHANCE SWAIM

C. CONNER CLAPHAM

REPORTER

@clapdaddy1

Wichita State has a new queen and king. Though the men’s basketball fell to Northern Iowa on Saturday, seniors Tim Eichler and Whitney Wilson won king and queen for this year’s homecoming royalty. “I didn’t expect it at all,” Eichler said. “I didn’t think that I was homecoming-worthy, so it’s just very cool to have won. I had an awesome partner to walk out with. I had a lot of fun experiences this week and it was just a lot of fun to be apart of homecoming this year.” Eichler is majoring in aerospace engineering and is a passionate Kansas City Royals fan. His favorite place on campus is the Heskett Center. Wilson is majoring in dental hygiene. She said she hopes to work for an oral health nonprofit organization that provides and advocates for access to care for high-risk populations. “I’m very excited and very honored to be here with the rest of the delegates,” Wilson said

REPORTER

@chanceswaim

Photo by Manny De Los Santos

Dental hygiene major Whitney Wilson and aerospace engineering major Tim Eichler pose for pictures after being crowned as homecoming queen and king Saturday during the halftime of the men’s basketball game at Charles Koch Arena.

after the crowning. “They’re all great individuals and I could definitely say they were all just as much deserving.” Other WSU students Dalton Glasscock, Michael Schultz, Ben

Varenhorst, Brittany de Hoyos, Ashlyn Funston and Maha Madi were also in the running for homecoming king and queen.

SEE ROYALTY • PAGE 2

Sexually transmitted diseases have spiked across the nation, and Sedgwick County is part of that trend. According to a recent Stanford University study, 25 percent of college students have a sexually transmitted disease (STD). Wichita State Student Health Services will offer students free sexually transmitted infection testing from 1 to 4 p.m. Wednesday in Room 209 Ahlberg Hall. “You don’t have to make an appointment,” said Heather Stafford, associate director of WSU’s Student Health Services. “Just walk in, fill out paperwork and get tested.” Stafford, also a registered nurse, said the free testing is, like all other WSU health services, confidential. “No one will know why you are here,” Stafford said. “Students wait in the waiting room for the test and then a provider calls them back and does a risk assessment. It’s very private.” The tests are for gonorrhea and chlamydia, two of the most

« IF YOU GO: STI testing

When: 1 to 4 p.m. Wednesday

Where: Room 209 Ahlberg Hall common and easily tested STIs, through a urine sample. Student Health Services also offers HIV, syphilis, Human Papillomavirus (HPV), herpes and hepatitis testing for a fee. Stafford said students can expect to have their test results back within four days. Student Health Services will call students with the results. Treatment for STIs is also available through Student Health Services. Gonorrhea and chlamydia can go undetected and, without treatment, can cause permanent harm, including scar tissue that blocks the fallopian tubes, pregnancy complications, and long-term pelvic and abdominal pain and infertility.

SEE TESTING • PAGE 2

PAGE 2 | OPINION THE STAFF:

EDITORIAL

Editor-in-Chief Shelby Reynolds

www.thesunflower.com

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 15

‘Freshman 15’ part of college life

Managing Editor Danielle Prewitt Multimedia Editor Jessica Green Sports Editor Evan Pflugradt Opinion Editor Alex Perry Special Sections Editor Chandler Ochoa Production Editor Jillian Clough Social Media Manager Chelsea Moore

ADVERTISING

Advertising Manager Jordan Becker Advertising Representatives Emily Maslow Landen Swearingen

BUSINESS / ADVISING Business Manager Robbie Norton Faculty Adviser Jessica Bertapelle

Photo Illustration by Jessica Green

Incoming freshmen and transfer students at Oral Roberts University are now required to wear Fitbits, a fitness-tracking device. The Sunflower is published by student-employees on Monday and Thursday during the fall and spring semesters. During the summer session, the paper is printed once a month, with exceptions for holidays and finals. The Sunflower (published for use by WSU students, faculty and staff) is private property and unlawful removal or use of papers is prosecutable. One copy may be taken for free. Additional copies must be purchased for $1 each. The Sunflower is also partially funded by the Student Government Association at WSU. The opinions expressed in The Sunflower editorials, columns, guest columns, reviews, advertisements, letters, Yik Yak posts and editorial cartoons are not necessarily those of the staff, publications board, student body or university. The Sunflower reserves the right to edit or reject any submission. We also reserve the right to edit or reject any advertisement.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Send letters to the editor to editor@ thesunflower.com. Please keep letters to 250 words or less. All letters are edited for clarity and length. Please include your name, WSU affiliation and a phone number or email address for verification purposes.

CONTACT THE SUNFLOWER: 019 Elliott Hall 1845 N. Fairmount Ave. Campus Box 134 Wichita, KS 67260-0134 ---------SUNFLOWER OFFICES Front Desk: 316-978-3640 Fax: 316-978-3778 ADVERTISING Jordan Becker: 316-978-6906 sunfloweradsales@gmail.com EDITORIAL Shelby Reynolds: 316-978-6905 editor@thesunflower.com BUSINESS Robbie Norton: 316-978-6900 robbie.norton@wichita.edu ADVISER Jessica Bertapelle: 316-978-6129 jessica.bertapelle@wichita.edu ----------

Oral Roberts putting health trackers on freshmen is peculiar One more deep breath. That’s all I needed. I slowly inhaled and COLUMN BY thought back DANIELLE to every PREWITT greasy, grilled cheese sandwich and mouth-watering brownie sundae I shoveled into my mouth during that first semester of freshman year of college. I held my breath, braced myself and heaved into the last pair of skinny jeans that barely fit. Exhale. I had just arrived home in Denver for my first holiday break and had nothing to wear to the family Christmas party, except a constricting pair of skinny jeans. In a span of four months, I had acquired the “freshman 15,” three distinct stomach rolls, two sturdy love handles and one impressive double chin that would put Jaba the Hut to shame. Recently, Oral Roberts Univer-

ROYALTY

FROM PAGE 1

Last week was homecoming week at WSU, with a full schedule of campus events, ending with the crowning of the king and queen.

sity in Tulsa, Oklahoma, announced it is requiring each incoming freshman to wear a Fitbit — a fitness-tracking device — to combat the freshman 15. The Christian university made the announcement earlier this month and said the fitness watches will contribute to the students’ grades, according to an article by NBC News. Kathaleen Reid-Martinez, ORU provost, told NBC News all undergrads are required to take a physical fitness course each semester and complete 150 minutes of physical activity a week, take 10,000 steps a day — which is monitored by the Fitbit — plus readings and exams. When news of this broke, I couldn’t decide whether I was envious or strangely annoyed. Certainly, I wish my university expected me to acquire 10,000 steps a day to eliminate the chances of added flab, but all freshmen need to endure the extra baggage at some point. The freshman 15 is just a slice of the Other homecoming festivites last week included a talent show, Shocker spirit day, a watch party at Shocker Sports Grill and Lanes, a pancake feed and a Nearly Naked Run where students dressed down for a chilly run outside Eck Stadium Friday night.

ONLINE www.thesunflower.com FACEBOOK www.facebook.com/sunflowerwsu www.facebook.com/sunflowerads TWITTER @sunflowernews @sunflowersports @Sunflower_SGA INSTAGRAM @thesunflowernews CORRECTIONS This space is reserved for corrections. Spot an error? Call us at 316-978-6905.

CLASSIFIEDS The Sunflower will not knowingly publish advertising that is false or misleading. If you have a question about an ad or a classified, call the Wichita Better Business Bureau at 316-263-3146.

Thinking Abortion? Alternatives: Free Testing 265-0134

More classifieds can be found online at www.thesunflower.com/classifieds. Be see in the classifieds by calling 316-978-6906.

@sunflowernews

Photo by Manny De Los Santos

As part of homecoming week, a group of WSU students brave cold weather Friday night and pose for before the Nearly Naked Run in front of Eck Stadium.

TESTING FROM PAGE 1

Both infections can be cured with proper treatment, according to the Center for Disease Control. The effects of both diseases are better mitigated when caught early, Stafford said. “The earlier we can detect these STIs, the less damage they will cause,” Stafford said. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, reported cases of chlamydia and gonorrhea are on the rise. Chlamydia is the most commonly reported sexually transmitted infection in the United States. Forty-eight percent of reported cases occur among sexually active young adults between the ages 15 and 24. The number of chlamydia

cases in Sedgwick County, where Wichita State is located, has jumped 20 percent since 2007, according to the latest data from county health rankings. Additional sexual health services included in the free testing day will be free condoms and other sexual health items. Stafford asks students planning to get tested not to use the restroom at least one hour before they plan on testing, for accuracy. Stafford said Student Health Services averages around 45 to 50 students at each free testing it offers. “We would love to see more students,” Stafford said, “because this is a high-risk population with a lot of sexual activity, and not everyone plays the safe sex game.”

pie known as college. Some of the best memories of my freshman year came from late-night fast food runs, pancake-eating contests (two-year reigning champ) and sharing boxes of pizza with my roommates. Never had it occurred to me, nor to any freshman, that poor lifestyle choices could threaten my capacity to excel. At least that’s what Oral Roberts thinks. USA TODAY College also spoke to Reid-Martinez, and she said a physically fit student has a greater capacity to learn and to become a professional within their community. “One who is not healthy, who is not physically fit, has less stamina and less capacity,” she said in the article. However, Olivia Ellis, a sophomore at Northwestern University also spoke to USA TODAY College and said that getting in shape should be a choice that a person makes, and shouldn’t be forced.

“Also, college students are adults. They should be able to make these decisions on their own and not have an institution do it for them,” she said. Still, my bitter love handles complain in envy. Perhaps if my university required me to stay in shape, I would have had more options to wear to the family Christmas party some years ago. But being away from home for the first time meant I could stay out as late as I wanted, dress as I wanted and consume as much as I wanted. With time, I developed the right mindset and an appetite for healthful choices. I am now a senior and recently acquired a Fitbit. I wear it every day, aim for my 10,000 steps, drink my green tea and regularly exercise. But do I regret shoveling three slices of pizza, coupled with a basket of fries and a brownie sundae into my mouth the first week of my freshman year? Absolutely not. I just bought bigger jeans.

Pros, cons of school uniforms Any issue about parenting will drive many, even if they are not yet or no COLUMN BY longer parents, VICTORIA hot under the HENDRICKS collar. One interesting and provocative issue is of education, which seems to be an especially fiery and varied debate. This opinion does not concern itself with the typical problems that most think of when discussing the issue: think budget, nutrition, staff or the like. Rather, it has to do with school attire and the personal expression, yet bullying, that they can invoke. Growing up as a very poor, disadvantaged and underprivileged child myself, I did not have the luxury of having nice, new clothes all the time, let alone for a new school year. I can still remember up through high school the dread, stress and anxiety that would overwhelm me those last couple weeks of summer break before the academic year started. With the ushering in of a new year, there were always the standard necessities to purchase for success: pencils, paper, a backpack, pens and, to my dismay, clothes. I was lucky if I got the pens. This is not meant to be a plight of my earlier existence. I do not feel sorry for myself and ask no one’s pity. This is simply setting the stage for what this piece is going to expound: the idea of school attire either making or breaking you. Clothes and fashion are amazing things. They boost your self-confidence and allow for unbridled and uninhibited personal artistic expression,

“

There is no doubt that, while personal artistic expression is important, so is the welfare and well-being of youngsters.”

which is good for the soul. Yet, they can also hinder self-confidence and lead to unfortunate things like bullying, especially in a school setting. We judge people by appearances because we are creatures of sight. There is no doubt that, while personal artistic expression is important, so is the welfare and well-being of youngsters. Handme-downs were a regular staple in my wardrobe — clothes outdated by the time they outgrew my sister and made their way to me, and I was endlessly teased for it. I had a friend that attended a magnet school where the clothing was a sea of green skirts or khaki pants, brown or black shoes, and a green or white collard T-shirt. She was as poor as I, and yet, was never in tears because of her clothing like her friend was. It is a complicated situation, both egalitarian and restricting. Obviously, people cannot control others’ finances and, also unfortunate, parents can’t be around their children every second of the school day to reprimand their children for saying grotesque and humiliating things to others for having “uncool” shoes and clothes. I am not expressing an opinion either way, just expressing the good and the bad of the issue. But personally, I would have sacrificed personal artistic expression for the sake of having friends and the respect of my peers, which should not come from the clothes others wear; but hey, creatures of sight, right?

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 15

www.thesunflower.com

PAGE 3 | NEWS

WSU study: Kansas population forecasted to transfer to metro areas GRANT COHEN

REPORTER

@gforce4preach

Wichita State’s Center for Economic Development and Business Research (CEDBR) saw the need for a study to predict a possible sizeable shift of residents from rural areas to metropolitan areas across the next 50 years in Kansas. Senior research economist Mike Busch decided that graduate student Matthew Darrah would be the perfect candidate to conduct this research. “We chose to have a student do this research because the center felt this was a great opportunity [to] have a student get hands-on experience working with large amounts of empirical data,” Busch said. “Matthew did great work with the project, and we are very pleased with the outcome.” According to Busch, the study was designed to forecast the population for each of Kansas’s 105 counties for the next 50 years. The 2014 Kansas population was used as the starting point with projections made from that information. Each county was divided into age, gender, birth, mortality and migration rates, and were projected until 2064. The largest increases were in the metropolitan areas and eastern portions of Kansas, according to the study. Starting in 2014, the study estimates a population increase in metroplitan areas comprised of 69.1 percent of the state’s population.

Metropolitan areas are estimated to have increased to 80.2 percent of the total population. “The key findings are the overall Kansas population is forecast to increase by 633,956 to 3,538,277,” Busch said. “The study also found that more of Kansas’ population is projected to shift to the urban centers in the state, and the state is forecast to have an increasing share of elderly population over the next 50 years.” CEDBR’s assignment is to enhance Kansas’s regions in economic growth and development. They do this by collecting, analyzing and disseminating business and demographic information and conducting applied business, economic and demographic research, according to the mission statement on the organization’s website. CEDBR continues to serve as the most prominent link for Wichita State and the W. Frank Barton School of Business for research between the business and economic development of the community. While honoring this task, the center’s director, Jeremy Hill, said the research center will continue to use students for future studies in order to help them gain valuable experience for these amounts of research. “The university had the goal of applying the experience to students,” Hill said. “It was to line up the university’s mission and we will continue to do that during the course of the future.”

TWITTER @sunflowernews

Photo by Manny De Los Santos

Alumnus Maria Fernanda makes hand-made buttons Friday in preparation for Noche de Ciencias (science night), which is a national program to promote knowledge and interest in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) among the Hispanic community. The event will be at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at North High School.

WSU’s Hispanic engineering students to inspire youth, parents in ‘Noche de Ciencias’ SHELBY REYNOLDS

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

@_shelbyreynolds

Growing up, Job Arredondo was always interested in science fiction. As a high school student in Dodge City, he asked a group of college students, “Who could build structures and space cars?” Aerospace or engineering students, they told him. Now a senior studying mechanical engineering at Wichita State, Arredondo hopes to pay it forward later this week. “As a Hispanic, you don’t really know what engineering is,” he said. “The best way to really become an engineer is know somebody beforehand. That’s something that Hispanics aren’t really exposed to.” Arredondo is the president of WSU’s Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, which will host “Noche de Ciencias” (science night) at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at North High School in Wichita. The activity is an effort to build a network and support system for young Hispanics and

their parents in the Wichita area. “Many of these kids would be first-generation college students,” said Maria Verdana, a WSU aerospace engineering alumnus and the organization’s previous president. “In the Hispanic culture … you go work right after high school and start making money for your family without realizing that might get you through for now, but if you invest and get a college degree — especially in engineering — you’ll be able to make a lot more money.” This Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers at WSU is a collegiate chapter of the national organization, which aims to serve as role models to the Hispanic community. The WSU organization oversees the junior chapter at North High. Hispanic children ranging from kindergartners to high school seniors will participate in science activities and a panel discussion with engineering professionals. “You don’t see a lot of Hispanic people [in engineering],”

Verdana said. “That’s one of the things that will intimidate a minority. We’re trying to get rid of that stigma.” The night will also consist of workshops — in English and Spanish — for parents to learn more about financial aid from WSU. “It’s about exposing students to engineering,” Arredondo said, “but more importantly, talking to parents about how to apply for financial aid, how to get their kids to apply to college and what kind of steps they need to take.”

« IF YOU GO:

Noche de Ciencias (science night) When: 5:30 to 8 p.m. Tuesday

Where: North High School cafeteria, 1437 N. Rochester, Wichita, KS 67203

FAMILY FUN DAY: WICHITA VORTEX Sunday, February 21 | 1 P.M. Saturday, February 20 | 1–3 P.M. Celebrate the 50th anniversary of poet Allen Ginsberg’s trip through Wichita in 1966 with a panel discussion on the history and importance of Ginsberg’s three week stay and the first reading of his poem Wichita Vortex Sutra that took place at WSU. Panel members include Dr. Roger Irwin, retired Professor of Philosophy and Comparative Religions; Dr. Jay Price, WSU Professor of History; Dan Rouser; and James W. Johnson, independent curator. KMUW commentator Jedd Beaudoin will perform a reading of Wichita Vortex Sutra following the panel discussion.

WSU Rhatigan Student Center Santa Fe Trail Room 233 Reception at the Ulrich Museum to follow the reading of Wichita Vortex Sutra

TODAY’S ART MATTERS. TODAY’S ART MATTERS. TODAY’S ART MATTERS. TODAY’S ART MATTERS. TODAY’S ART MATTERS.

Kids of all ages will explore the photographs of Kansas born artist Gordon Parks through story, music, and special make-it-take-it art projects at Family Fun Day. Inspire a lifetime of artistic engagement by participating in art activities designed to stimulate young minds. Family Fun Day is free and open to the public. Presented in conjunction with Visual Justice: The Gordon Parks Photography Collection at WSU, on view at the Ulrich through April 10.

IMAGE: Gordon Parks, Ethel Sharrieff, Chicago, Illinois, 1963. Ulrich Museum of Art, Wichita State University, Wichita. Courtesy of and © The Gordon Parks Foundation

More information: ulrich.wichita.edu/visualjustice

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 15

PAGE 4 | SPORTS

STREAK FROM PAGE 1

VanVleet would pass to an open McDuffie for a three-pointer, ending a six-minute WSU scoring drought. VanVleet tossed in back-to-back three-pointers in the ensuing possessions. Washpun, trying to pull the momentum back in favor of his team, turned the ball over, called for a travel at half court. The Shockers forced four UNI turnovers in three minutes, and Gregg Marshall’s team triumphantly rallied a 17-2 run to tie the game at 44 apiece. Scrappy defense on both ends kept each group clawing for the lead. WSU missed open looks, misfiring on five attempts to take the lead. “I knew if we could take the lead, this [crowd] would really support us,” Marshall said. “We couldn’t get one to fall down.” Four minutes and 32 seconds of scoreless basketball ended with a three-pointer from UNI guard Wyatt Lohaus. Lohaus made a step-back jumper on the next drive. The Panthers reclaimed a two-possession lead. WSU trimmed down a late

six-point deficit. With 2.8 seconds remaining, Conner Frankamp missed a three to send the game to overtime. “[Conner] used the screen and he curled, down three, in that situation, it’s what he’s designed to do,” Marshall said. “That’s as good of [a] shot as you’re going to get.” Frankamp finished with no points. He missed all five of his shots. Baker was scoreless in the second half. He missed seven shots, including a three-pointer to tie the game with 10 seconds remaining. “The numbers show, we didn’t shoot the ball well,” Baker said. “I was stressing it too much, trying to force it, getting frustrated. I didn’t let the game come to me.” The trio of VanVleet, Baker and Frankamp combined for 22 percent field goal percentage on 36 shots. “Shot making is a great equalizer,” VanVleet said. “When you make shots it helps cover up a lot of stuff. When you miss, it exposes everything.” WSU tallied 21 more rebounds than the Panthers. The Shockers also posted 18 more shot attempts than their opponent. The Shockers shot 26 percent in the second half after missing 46 shots in the game. The Panthers won for their

sixth-straight victory, advancing to an 8-6 conference record. UNI is now a game shy of second place in the Valley after starting the conference season with a dismal 2-6 record. In terms of national spotlight, Wichita State is back at the drawing board — a school-record 43 consecutive wins, now back to zero. “We’re disappointed, we’re upset,” VanVleet said. “We’re putting ourselves in a tough situation going forward. Us seniors understand, there’s no next year for us.” It’s a mark the two senior All-Americans, VanVleet and Baker, hoped would stand long after their departure. “We were part of the start of it, for it to end early in our books is very disappointing,” Baker said. “For us to lose like this at home, we feel disappointed in ourselves. We feel disappointed for letting Wichita down.” Things are back to square one. The Shockers will look at starting a new winning streak. “We want to get this bitter taste out [of] our mouths as quickly as possible,” Baker said. WSU hosts New Mexico State at 7 p.m. Monday in Charles Koch Arena.

Women’s basketball weekend recaps

Friday: Shockers lose close one to Bradley NICK BEACH

REPORTER

@nickbeach1

Taquandra Mike is stepping into a veteran role on a young Wichita State team. The junior guard has been a vocal leader for the Shockers this season. On Friday she let actions do the talking. Mike scored 13 points, including two pivotal three-pointers that kept the effort of her squad spirited through the final minutes. Wichita State lost Friday to Bradley, 55-50. “[Mike] is a rhythm player,” WSU head coach Jody Adams said. “When you find her in rhythm, whether one second on the clock or 29 seconds on the clock, she can score in bunches. She’s a very gifted offensive player.” Mike played with a different kind of tenacity that has been steadily growing as the season has progressed. She posted 13 first-half points, three rebounds, a block and two steals to send her team into halftime tied at 24 points with the Braves. The Shockers, feeding off Mike’s first-half performance, looked steadily for opportunities to pull ahead and take the lead. To no avail the team couldn’t seize the opportunities. “We were lacking tempo,” Adams said. WSU made one of nine shot attempts to start the third quarter. A layup by freshman Sabrina Lozada-Cabbage ended a nearly six minute WSU scoring drought and the Shockers pulled to within

Sunday: WSU rallies past Loyola in overtime victory NICK BEACH

REPORTER

@nickbeach1

Sophomore forward Rangie Bessard is learning a lot about trust. It’s a part of her game she has been challenged with by head coach Jody Adams — to trust her teammates, trust her coaches and more importantly, to trust herself. On Sunday, Bessard trusted herself and her shot — she scored 26 points on 11 baskets as Wichita State defeated Loyola 65-62 in overtime. “For [Bessard] to be able to mentally do that says a lot about her,” Adams said. The crowd was behind Bessard from the early-going as she connected from three-point range in the first quarter, forcing Loyola to a timeout. Bessard’s five points on back-to-back baskets gave the Shockers their first lead of the game after trailing by seven. Koch Arena joined in with the

Photo by Manny De Los Santos

Freshman Sabrina Lozada-Cabbage drives to the paint in the first quarter against Bradley on Friday night at Charles Koch Arena during pink night — a night to raise awareness for breast cancer. The Shockers lost against the Braves, 55-50.

three points of Bradley. Out of a WSU timeout, Adams reiterated to her group they were still in the game and if their efforts on defense could continue to hang around long enough, the offense would do their part. Two free throws from Rangie Bessard gave the Shockers their first lead of the second half — a narrow one-point lead. Mike decided it wasn’t enough, she threw up a three-point basket excitement of Adams’s group. Bessard led with 15 first-half points. The Shockers held on to a two-point lead at the end of the third quarter. Adams instilled confidence in her players as they contested through a challenging fourth quarter. The Shocker defense swooped in on the Ramblers. Loyola shot 46 percent on 26 shots in the second half as the Shockers boasted a 59 percent shooting percentage on 22 shots. The Ramblers battled back and reclaimed a fourth-quarter lead. A three-point basket by Taquandra Mike would tie the game with one minute and 38 seconds remaining. Mike collected back-to-back rebounds to hold off Loyola and send things to overtime. Bessard would swish two free throws as overtime expired — the Shockers won in Koch Arena in thrilling fashion. “I was kind of feeling it tonight,” Bessard said. “I really played hard tonight and I trusted my shot.” Bessard’s 26 points finished a point below her season high. It’s a

to beat the buzzer and the Shockers entered the fourth-quarter with a four-point lead over the Braves. “When we play as a team, and move around and keep the ball moving on offense and defense, we are great together,” Mike said. The Shockers’ fourth-quarter efforts weren’t enough. WSU fell to the Braves for their 10th conference loss of the season.

“

I was kind of feeling it tonight. I really played hard tonight and I trusted my shot.”

www.thesunflower.com

Photo by Manny De Los Santos

Freshman Markis McDuffie goes after a loose ball in the first half against the University of Northern Iowa on Saturday afternoon at Charles Koch Arena. The Panthers ended a 43-game, home-winning streak by defeating the Shockers 53-50. McDuffie finished the game with seven points on nine shots and three rebounds.

Butler finishes offseason to-do list JOSHUA DUNCAN

REPORTER

@joshduncan316

With injured starters back in the lineup, experienced position players and a new scoreboard in left field, WSU head coach Todd Butler has a lot to be excited about. “We’re excited about this season,” Butler said. “We’ve got a number of good things going on in the park.” Not many questions were asked after Butler addressed the media on Friday. Not many had to be asked. Butler has listened to the concerns from the past two seasons and addressed each of them, one by one like a checklist. “The one thing about this team this year that stands out is the talent,” Butler said. “You have to have talent first. We’ve had two top 25 recruiting classes, which sounds good on paper, but you have to go out and play.” Butler expressed the experience gained from last year’s schedule, paired with the experience from returners from last year’s injury list, is going to make a noticeable improvement. “We have nine pitchers back from last year to (give us) the experience,” Butler said. ”We also have six starting position players returning.” Right-handed pitcher Sam Tewes leads an experienced group of pitchers on the mound. Tewes is ranked No. 33 among college pitchers in the nation. He is also the projected MVC Pitcher of the Year according to Baseball America. “The next thing you need is depth,” Butler said. “Depth is the one thing we’ve really tried to approach in the recruiting the last two years.” Injured starters debilitated Wichita State early on last season. Now with a deepened roster of 39 healthy players, injuries are a challenge Butler thinks he can beat. “Injuries will occur during the season,” Butler said. “Hopefully it’s the depth that will help us overcome the injury with another

Photo by Joshua Duncan

Wichita State head baseball coach Todd Butler addresses media Friday.

man stepping up.” Stepping up the scheduling is one thing Butler and his staff have aggressively improved. This year the Shockers will compete against the nation’s top teams inside Eck Stadium. “I think we have to see it to be it,” Butler said. “I want to play the best teams in our area and improve as the season goes.” There will be no shortage of competition in Eck Stadium — the Shockers host home series games with Oklahoma State, Kansas, TCU and Cal Poly. Butler hopes to energize his players with 22 home games. It’s experience he hopes the team can carry with them. The Shockers travel to Cal State Fullerton, Nebraska, Kansas State and Oklahoma. The early competition with experienced opponents is something Butler hopes the will carry the team through the Missouri Valley. The Shockers host four home conference series and play three on the road. “We need to take advantage of those home series,” Butler said. In conference play, Wichita State hosts Missouri State, Dallas Baptist, Bradley and Indiana State. The Shockers travel to Evansville, Illinois State and Southern Illinois. With his offseason to-do list filled with checkmarks, Butler is focused on the season opener with Northern Colorado at 7 p.m. Friday at Eck Stadium.

RANGIE BESSARD Sophomore forward

standout performance for the sophomore, but it’s a growing case for her and her teammates to perform up to the level of their opponents. “As we continue to grow and come together we can be a powerful team,” Bessard said. “We all have the IQ. We all have the capability. We’re ready to take care of these next two games and progress to the (MVC) tournament.” For Adams, this one means a lot. “This one we’ll remember for a long time,” Adams said. “I’m very happy for this team to put a whole game together.” The Shockers compete next on the road against Evansville. Tip is set for 7 p.m. Friday at the Ford Center in Evansville, Indiana.

ELECTRONIC CIGARETTES

MON-FRI 10-9pm SATURDAY 10-7pm SUNDAY 1-5pm KITS • MODS •E-HOOKAHS TANKS • E-LIQUID ACCESSORIES • BATTERIES