The UTEP rifle team will play host to Nevada and Alaska-Fairbanks in its NCAA Qualifier match beginning at 8:30 a.m. Saturday. Admission is free and there will be breakfast for fans as part of UTEP’s celebration for National Girls & Women In Sports Week.
The match is the final on tap for the regular season for the Miners, with members of the squad vying to qualify as an individual for the 2019 NCAA Championships (March 8-9).
“Saturday is our last home match of the season,” UTEP head coach Austin Litherland said. “I have watched the team at every match grow more and more. We are very excited to host Alaska and Reno for the final time this year.”
The Miners are coming off their best score (4610) in five years of competition at the Patriot Rifle Conference Championships (Feb. 3-4). The aggregate (4610) was one shy of a campaign high. UTEP shot a season-best 2290 in smallbore (Feb. 3) before producing a solid score of 2320 in air rifle (Feb. 4).
Sophomore Jessica Boyce has accounted for a team-leading aggregate of 1152, including a squad-best 583 in air rifle. She shares the top spot for smallbore average (570) with freshman Morgahn Warner. Overall Warner’s average aggregate (1145) is second on the squad, with the aforementioned 570 in smallbore and 575 in air rifle.
Junior Mara Rouse is close behind (1145), which is aided by the second-best air rifle average (578) on the squad. Rouse checks in with an average smallbore score of 566. Senior Maranda Nelson (1137), sophomore Samantha Miller (1135) and freshman Josephine John (1124) also have made contributions this season.
For fans unable to make it out to the UTEP Rifle Range, which is located in the military sciences building, there will be live stats available online.
