Huskers Look to Collect Win Against UTEP

The No. 4 Nebraska Rifle team (4-4) returns to the Nebraska Rifle Range on Sunday, Nov. 20 for a match against UTEP to close out the fall portion of the season. The match is set to start at 8 a.m. central. The match was originally scheduled for Oct. 8, but UTEP's travel issues pushed the match to this weekend.

Fans can follow along with results at https://results.megalink.no/#!/. 

The Huskers go into this match following a record-setting weekend in Alaska. Despite losing to the No. 2 Alaska Fairbanks Nanooks by scores of 4,743-4,714 and 4,740-4,726, Nebraska set new aggregate and air rifle records. Two freshmen also made their way to the top of the record books with air rifle scores of 598.

"It will be good to have a home match with UTEP," said Head Coach Mindy Miles. "The team is happy to be back home. We are looking forward to another opportunity to compete. This will be the last match for the fall, and the student-athletes will get a break before next semester."

The Huskers' aggregate score of 4,726, set on Nov. 13, is the best score in program history. It topped the previous record of 4,717, set this season against No. 9 Air Force on Oct. 22. Nebraska posted four of the five highest team scores in program history during the fall portion of its schedule. NU's air rifle score of 2,381, also set on Nov. 13, beat out the previous record of 2,379 that was set this season against No. 12 Ohio State on Oct. 29.

Freshmen Emma Rhode and Tori Watts both shot air rifle scores of 598 on Nov. 13, which is a new school record. The previous record of 597 was most recently held by Rhode and Watts this season, and Junior All-American Cecelia Ossi in the 2021-22 season.

The Miners are 0-4 in dual matches this season, and have placed third in two triangulars- one against No. 5 West Virginia and No. 9 Air Force and one against No. 8 Murray State and No. 12 Ohio State. They average an aggregate score of 4,573 on the season.

The Huskers have faced UTEP 17 times since 2001 and have won 12 of those matchups. Nebraska is currently on a six-game win streak, the most recent coming from last season — NU defeated the Miners with a score of 4,695-4,558. 

In Nebraska's first match with No. 2 Alaska-Fairbanks on Nov. 12, Cecelia Ossi (third, 1,184) and Tori Watts (fifth, 1,178) placed in the top five overall. Ossi was third in the air rifle with a score of 596 and Watts was fifth with a score of 595. Ossi also earned a third-place finish in the smallbore with a score of 588.

In the second match against the Nanooks on Nov. 13, Watts placed fifth overall with a score of 1,185 to lead the Huskers. In the air rifle, Watts and Rhode earned second and third place finishes, respectively, with their 598 scores. Freshman Camilla Johannessen shot a personal best score of 595 to finish fifth. In the smallbore, Ossi was third with a personal best score of 592. Watts also shot a personal best of 587 to place seventh.

Following the match with UTEP, the Huskers will take a break until Jan. 14, when they will travel to Kentucky to face No. 15 Morehead State.