El Paso, Texas - The Nebraska rifle team fired its top score of the season to down host UTEP 6,166-6,103 in a dual at the UTEP Rifle Range on Saturday. The Huskers' season-high score of 6,166 ranks as the sixth-best score nationally this season, while their smallbore score of 4,622 ties for fourth on Nebraska's all-time charts.

On the heels of its worst showing in air rifle in more than two years, Nebraska had all four shooters fire at least a 380 to tally 1,544 points, 33 better than Friday's effort against Alaska-Fairbanks. Sophomore Melissa Downsbrough, one of four athletes to fire a 388, was crowned the individual champion after winning the tiebreaker on center shots. The State College, Pa., native sits second on the team with a 387 average and has now captured an individual title in both smallbore (against Air Force) and air rifle this season. Teammates Amanda Trujillo and Alicia Sawyer also fired 388s to finish third and fourth, respectively.

For the second consecutive match, Sawyer led the Huskers in the smallbore claiming the individual title with a score of 1,164. In all, Nebraska claimed the top three places in smallbore, as Downsbrough finished second with a season-high 1,162, while Trujillo finished third with a 1,156. Senior Rachel Spiry rounded out the scoring for the Huskers with a season-high score of 1,140.

Nebraska will take two weeks off before heading to Murray, Ky., to participate in the Roger Withrow Rifle match on Jan. 26.

Nebraska	Smallbore	Air Rifle		UTEP	Smallbore	Air Rifle
Alicia Sawyer	1,164	388