Monday, December 15, 2025
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Lady Toppers use 3rd quarter surge to topple North Dakota
Western Kentucky University forward Tatum Boettjer (13) attempts to block a shot by University of Vanderbilt forward Sacha Washington (35) during WKU’s game against the Vanderbilt University Commodores in Diddle Arena on Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2025.(Cayden Duncan)
WKU Women’s Basketball’s obliterative third quarter powered its 80-50 road win over North Dakota Sunday afternoon. The Lady Toppers bested the Fighting Hawks on all fronts in the third quarter, outscoring UND 21-6 thanks to a 19-0 scoring run that spanned six minutes. The Lady Toppers shot 52.9% from the field and grabbed 14 rebounds in the period compared to the Fighting Hawks’ 20.0% shooting and six boards. “We’ve had moments, we’ve had quarters, we’ve had halves, but we haven’t had games,” Head Coach Greg Collins said. “It was good to have a game where they could experience what it feels like to play well… and to win.” Read more by Adrianna Lein
Last week's important news
Board of Regents approves public-private partner, ‘retirement’ of SLF
WKU President Timothy Caboni discusses the proposed partnership with real estate developer Gilbane to transform WKU’s student housing to a private-ownership model with the Board of Regents in the Cornelius A. Martin Regents Room in Jody Richards Hall on Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025. The Board of Regents voted to approve the partnership unanimously. (Von Smith)
The WKU Board of Regents approved the university’s new publicprivate dorm partner on Thursday, and a plan that would give the university power to set how much students pay for dorms for the first time since 1999. WKU approved a $5.8 million pre-development agreement with Gilbane, a Rhode Island-based international real estate company, to operate and manage, as well as construct and renovate the university’s current and future dorms. The cost of pre-development will be initially covered by Gilbane and then reimbursed through the project’s financing. Gilbane will bring with it the Collegiate Housing Foundation, a national non-profit that will “sit in a very similar seat” as the Student Life Foundation, said Julian Sagastume, a senior analyst for consulting firm Brailsford & Dunlavey. The SLF was created by former WKU President Gary Ransdell in 1999 to take on construction and renovation debt as well as ensure money generated by housing was spent on housing. The Collegiate Housing Foundation would own WKU’s dorms over the 40year deal, after which ownership would transfer to WKU. Read more by Jake McMahon and Anthony Clauson
Who is WKU’s possible public-private dorm partner?
Dorm rendering included in Gilbane’s proposal to WKU. The traffic circle is the intersection of University Boulevard, Avenue of Champions and Russellville Road.
WKU President Timothy Caboni will request that the Board of Regents approve a predevelopment agreement with a private company to manage WKU’s current and future dorms at Thursday’s Board of Regents meeting. Caboni is requesting approval for Gilbane, an international real estate firm based in Rhode Island. Gilbane has public-private housing partnerships with 10 universities.
In addition to university housing, Gilbane has been involved in various high-profile projects and lawsuits resulting in settlements. Read more by Anthony Clauson
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