The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss
Murray State
Rifle Outshoots Murray State, 4697-4682
10/10/2021 | Rifle
Rebels Post Season-High Team Score
MURRAY, Ky. – With everyone back in the lineup for head coach Marsha Beasley, No. 8 Ole Miss rifle picked up its first victory of the season over Murray State, 4697-4682.
Just three points shy of eclipsing the 4700 mark, the Rebels turned in a solid team performance, including the top three scores in the match led by Lea Horvath with an 1183. Juniors Kristen Derting and Claire O'Neel followed with identical scores of 1179, which was a career-high mark for O'Neel.
The Rebels started the morning off with a strong 2339 in smallbore, thanks to a 591 from Derting and a 590 from Horvath. Derting's 591 is the second-best smallbore score fired in the nation this season. Senior Jillian Zakrzeski fired a 582 for the second consecutive week, while counters M'Leah Lambdin and Abby Buesseler turned in a 576 and 573, respectively. Not serving as smallbore counters in the match, Erin Walsh and O'Neel finished a point apart with scores of 583 and 582.
In air rifle, Ole Miss saw O'Neel make the most of her 60 shots, finishing with a career-high 597. She was perfect on her first 34 shots before hitting a 9.8. The junior regained her focus to fire the second-best mark in the country this season. Horvath was the only other air counter over 590, posting a 593. Zakrzeski ended with a 586, followed by Buesseler and Lambdin with scores of 582 and 581.
Murray State fired a season-high 4682 (2319 smallbore and 2363 air rifle). The Racers outshot Ole Miss in air rifle, but it wasn't enough to make up the deficit. Individually, John Blanton was the top performer from Murray State, posting an 1176.
Ole Miss will head back to Oxford for a three-match homestand, starting next weekend with back-to-back GARC contests against Akron and Navy on Saturday and Sunday.
For more information on Ole Miss rifle, follow the Rebels on Facebook (OleMissRifle), Twitter (@OleMissRifle), Instagram (@OleMissRifle) and at OleMissSports.com.
