The TCU rifle team continued its winning ways Sunday afternoon by defeating the U.S. Coast Guard Academy rifle team 4,699-4,525, barely missing the 4,700-point plateau.
Sophomore Mindy Miles led all shooters with an aggregate score of 1,181 (smallbore 585; air rifle 596), tying her season-high for the third time.
“She’s very strong in the air rifle event,” said head coach Karen Monez. “In fact, I would say she’s probably in the top three at the NCAA level this year as far as averages go in air rifle.”
Monez credited the equipment changes Miles has made for the improvement Miles has shown in smallbore.
“She’s just really come on strong [in] smallbore in the last few matches. She made some equipment changes over the break with her smallbore and that has really helped her performance,” Monez said.
Sally Li was second on the team with an aggregate score of 1,171. She was followed by sophomore Ariana Grabowski (season-best 1,171) and first-year Nicole Hankey (1,170).
Coast Guard was led by junior Nick Paisker, with an aggregate score of 1,129, and sophomore Lindsey Critser (1,126).
The win moved TCU to 10-0 on the year.
Monez said that although winning and remaining undefeated is nice, the team needs to continue to perform.
“It’s good to be undefeated,” Monez said. “Every time you have a win, you gain momentum. But in our sport, it’s really about scoring.
“What’s important is we are putting together some very good team aggregates, and we’re doing that constantly. So, that is what is more important in regards to evaluating how the team is doing rather [than] wins and losses — but those wins are good.”
The Horned Frogs return to action Feb. 6 and Feb. 7 in the Patriot Conference Championships in Fort Worth.