LEXINGTON, Ky. — Despite an outstanding performance from Megan English, the Kentucky rifle team dropped a 4656-4649 match with traditional power and top-ranked Alaska-Fairbanks, Tuesday at Barker Hall.

Kentucky (6-3) dropped its first match of the spring season, after opening the second half of the year with a win at Army in West Point, N.Y. The Wildcats got an outstanding pressure-laden performance from Megan English, who competed last for the UK first-team, totaling a 588 in air rifle. Freshman Stacy Wheatley had an excellent performance in smallbore, totaling a 573.

“Today was a tough match, because I felt like both teams left some points out on the board,” UK head coach Harry Mullins said. “Alaska-Fairbanks is a great team and they are going to continue to put up some good scores. I felt like we had a few good performances, but we are capable of putting up a better score, particularly in smallbore. We are going to get back to work and continue to get better before a tough matchup this weekend.”

Also on the first team, UK got a team-best 589 score in air rifle, with fellow senior Tom Csenge totaling a 587 and standout freshman Katie Fretts contributing a 584. In smallbore, Csenge led the team with a 579, with Jackson (578), Ethan Settlemires (574) and Jen Pason (570) rounding out the first team.

“We really need to get back to shooting in the 580s in smallbore and the 590s in air rifle,” Mullins said. “This was a good match to get our team some more experience competing against an excellent group in Alaska-Fairbanks. We have competed against the top three teams in the nation so far this year and haven’t been able to get over the hump.”

Kentucky returns to action Saturday, hosting conference foe Ole Miss at UK’s Barker Hall.