Monday, February 9, 2026
Second-half surge powers Hilltoppers to win over FIU
Western Kentucky University guard L.J. Hackman (2) fights for control of the ball against FIU defense on Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026 in E.A. Diddle Arena.(Jacob Sebastian)
Behind a second-half surge, WKU Men’s Basketball defeated the FIU Panthers 80-70 Saturday afternoon in Diddle Arena. The win moved the Hilltoppers to 13-11 and 6-7 in conference play. The Hilltoppers came alive in the second half. It started on the defensive end for WKU, holding the Panthers to 34% from the floor and forcing eight of the Panthers 13 turnovers in the half. Despite a sluggish first half for the Hilltoppers, where they shot 28% from the floor, they came out firing on all cylinders in the second half, shooting 44%. WKU got it done from beyond the arc, finishing the day shooting 35%. Senior forward Grant Newell finished with five of the team’s 13 threes, and senior guard Cam Haffner finished with four. Read more by Peyton Reid
View the gallery by Jacob Sebastian
A Paralegal Perspective on the Right to Remain Silent
Susan Montalvo Gesser, the director of Catholic Charities Diocese of Owensboro and an immigration attorney, speaks on what to do if an immigration agent or law enforcement comes to your house at the “Know Your Rights” presentation on Feb. 7, 2026. (Bradlee Reed-Whalen)
Members of the Bowling Green community attended a Know Your Rights presentation as mass deportation efforts continue throughout the United States. The event sought to inform attendees on what to say and do in the presence of immigration agents and law enforcement, said Miguel Quintanilla, one of the paralegals with Catholic Charities who organized the event. “It’s hard times for immigrants and refugees right now, and what we want them to be is informed and to be able to make the right decisions in all situations,” Quintanilla said. Read more by Bradlee Reed-Whalen
Whisks, sausage, drama: Students create plays in 24 hours
Junior Musical Theatre major Ireland Wolfe (left) and Freshman Theatre major Emory Heckman (right) argue due to past relationship issues during Plays in a Day produced by the WKU Student Chapter of Alpha Psi Omega at the Lab Theatre in Gordon Wilson Hall Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026. (Natasha Gomez)
With only one day to prepare, students produced, wrote, directed and acted in two short plays for WKU’s Plays in a Day event Sunday. The first play, “Whisk,” followed a man who, alongside his husband, went through his belongings from his deceased mother’s estate, and reminisced on the memories associated with each object. Their conversation culminated in the discussion of an old whisk, evoking the protagonist’s memory of coming out to his mom. Read more by Fiona Jones
Fourth quarter surge lifts Missouri State over WKU Women’s Basketball
Western Kentucky University guard Enni Ahervuo (21) shoots a free throw during the women’s basketball game against the University of Delaware in E.A. Diddle Arena in Bowling Green, Ky. on Jan. 23, 2026.(Libby Simpson)
A three-point first quarter led to a blowout win by Missouri State over WKU Women’s Basketball Saturday afternoon, 75-52. The Lady Toppers shot an ice-cold 7% from the field in the first quarter, falling into an 18-point hole. The Bears used strong first and fourth quarters, scoring 47 points combined in those periods, to pull away from WKU, which shot 6-28. Missouri State’s largest runs were an 18-0 run in the first and a 24-9 run in the fourth. Read more by Michael Givner Jr.
VISUALS: Cowboys lasso cattle during Southern Ky Team Penning Expo
Kevin Reese yells at a calf to turn its direction during the Southern KY Team Penning Expo at the WKU L.D. Brown Ag Expo Center in Bowling Green, Ky. on Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026. (Libby Simpson)
View the gallery by Libby Simpson
WKU Softball starts season 4-1 at ‘Bash in the Boro’
WKU right handed pitcher Rylan Smith (17) celebrates a no hit inning during WKU Softball’s game against the University of Louisville Cardinals in Bowling Green, Ky. on Tuesday, March 25, 2025.(Eli Randolph)
WKU Softball started the season strong, going 4-1 at the “Bash in the Boro” in Georgia. The Hilltoppers pitching led the way, allowing just five runs in five games and throwing three shutouts. Sophomore right-hander Erica Houge dominated when called upon, pitching for 16 of the 20 innings in the tournament. The pitching staff as a whole posted a 0.61 ERA on the weekend. “Good to be coming home 4-1,” Head Coach Amy Tutor said. “Our pitching staff had a phenomenal weekend.” Read more by Adrianna Lein and Austin Rice
The College Heights Herald is the independent, student-run news organization operating on the campus of Western Kentucky University, emphasizing accuracy and truth while being a public forum for the fair display of diverse opinions and viewpoints. The Herald works to be steadfast and unwavering in its pursuit of truth while being true to the tenets of the WKU Student Publications mission to grow exceptional journalists and innovative leaders through real-world experiences and a strong educational and ethical foundation centered on principled journalism. All creative and editorial decisions are made by the Herald’s student leadership, and all consequences of those decisions are the sole responsibility of these student leaders. While editorially and operationally independent from the university, the Herald participates in the mission of WKU to prepare students of all backgrounds to be productive, engaged and socially responsible citizen-leaders of a global society, both within and outside of its newsroom. Views expressed are diverse and, as an independent publication, should not be taken as representative of views of WKU and any of its administration, faculty, staff, student body or other constituency.
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