Huskers Rebound to Defeat UTEP and Mississippi

El Paso - The Nebraska rifle team rebounded from a season-low score on Friday to capture its seventh title of the season Saturday in a triangular with Texas-El Paso and Mississippi. The Huskers, competing against two all-female squads, used scores of 4,622 in smallbore and 1,553 in air rifle to win the triangular hosted by UTEP. Nebraska's aggregate score of 6,175 bettered runner-up UTEP (6,081) by nearly 100 points, while Mississippi finished with 5,844 points.

Nebraska claimed both individual titles, led by freshman Melissa Downsbrough in air rifle. For the second consecutive day, the State College, Pa., native recorded a personal-best mark, firing a 392 to lead all shooters. Nebraska had three athletes fire 390 or better, including sophomore Amanda Trujillo, who has been the Huskers' most consistent shooter averaging 391 on the season. Trujillo matched her season average Saturday firing a 391 to tie for second with UTEP freshman Sarah Paoletta. Junior Terim Richards tallied 390 to finish fourth, marking the third time this season that the Louisville, Neb., native has fired 390 or better. Rounding out the air rifle team was sophomore Nicole Allaire, who fired a 380 to finish seventh.

Allaire, who struggled in air rifle, was on the mark in smallbore, capturing the tournament title with a score of 1,163. Trujillo fired a 1,162 to finish tied for second with UTEP sophomore Chris Villa, while Downsbrough shot a 1,151 to finish fourth. Freshman Heather Pissos shot a 1,146 (6th) to round out the team scoring. Pissos, who competed as an individual in the air rifle competition, fired a career-high 381 to finish seventh.

Nebraska will take a week off before returning to the range to compete in the Roger Withrow Invitational Rifle Match on Jan. 28, in Murray, Ky.

Nebraska	Smallbore	Air Rifle		Texas El-Paso	Smallbore	Air Rifle
Melissa Downsbrough	1,151	393		Matt Emmons	1,186	397
Amanda Trujillo	1,162	391		Chris Villa	1,162	383
Nicole Allaire	1,163	380		Danielle Abbott	1,133	384
Terim Richards	----	390		Lory Blanco	1,142	---
Heather Pissos	1,146	---		Amanda Hammell	----	337
Team Total	4,622	1,553		Team Total	4,586	1,495
Mississippi	Smallbore	Air Rifle
Kristin Parker	1,110	370
Katie Trickett	1,091	369
Misty Ballard	1,110	352
Maranda Stockton	1,080	362
Team Total	4,391	1,453
Nebraska Individuals	Smallbore	Air Rifle		UTEP Individuals	Smallbore	Air Rifle
Rachel Spiry	1,124	374		Melissa Evans	1,109	---
Karen Aspden	1,097	367		Lory Blanco	----	381
Heather Pissos	----	381
Mississippi Individuals	Smallbore	Air Rifle
Samantha Ball	1,011	344