Oct. 31, 2009

LEXINGTON, Ky. — A week after totaling the best score in the NCAA this season, the Kentucky rifle team rode an outstanding performance from senior Jen Pason to a 4654-4567 win over Jacksonville State, on Saturday at UK’s Barker Hall.

Pason led the way for UK with a team-high 588 in air rifle, equaling the 588 that All-American Tom Csenge totaled. In smallbore, Pason had a 582, with senior Ashley Jackson finishing with a 584 in smallbore and a 587 in air rifle. Sophomore Ethan Settlemires had a 581 in air rifle and a 576 in smallbore, while freshman Katie Fretts totaled a 585 in air rifle and a 574 in smallbore.

“It is difficult for the team to come off such a great performance at Murray State,” UK head coach Harry Mullins said. “There is a lot of pressure to maintain that high level for the rest of the season.”

Kentucky returns to action Nov. 8, hosting Ohio State at Barker Hall in Lexington.

“We had some good performance today from all the team members,” Mullins said. “Eight people were at or above 570s in smallbore and six people over 580 in air rifle. To have that many people performing at that level is a testament to how hard our team is training day in and day out. Now we need to focus on breaking into the next level consistently because today we lacked the top level scores that produced that 4670 score at Murray. Our team is starting to realize that we can’t be afraid to break out of our comfort zone if we are going to achieve our season goals.”