MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The No. 1-ranked West Virginia University rifle team closed its fall slate in commanding fashion, shooting an NCAA record in a 4742-4703 victory at No. 3 Murray State this afternoon inside the Pat Spurgin Rifle Range in Murray, Kentucky.
 
The Mountaineers (8-0, 5-0 GARC) bested their own national record of 4740, previously shot in a win over Akron (4621) on Jan. 17, 2016, at the WVU Rifle Range.
 
"I'm really pleased with how the team came out and competed today," Mountaineer coach Jon Hammond said. "On the road, in the new range and the second match of the weekend – these student-athletes were certainly feeling tired. To set an NCAA record is really impressive and a huge credit to the determination and attitude of the team."
 
WVU swept the Racers in both disciplines, shooting an NCAA-record 2356 smallbore, as well as a 2386 mark in air rifle. Murray State finished with scores of 2330 smallbore and 2373 air rifle.
 
For the second straight day, a pair of Mountaineers swept the individual competitions.
 
Sophomore Milica Babic shot a career-best 591 (194 kneeling, 199 prone, 198 standing) smallbore to lead the Mountaineers to their NCAA-record showing.
 
"It was great to see Milica shoot a personal best and lead the way in smallbore," Hammond said. "I think today shows the strength of the team and that any one of them can have the high score on any given day. Milica has really progressed in smallbore this year, not just in her consistency but also in her level of scores."
 
In air rifle, junior Ginny Thrasher finished first with a 599 (100-100-99-100-100-100).
 
Sophomore Morgan Phillips finished behind Babic in smallbore with a career-high matching 590. The Salisbury, Maryland, native also shot the mark at Memphis yesterday. Included in her score today was a program-record matching 200 prone mark.
 
Senior Elizabeth Gratz shot a season-high 588, including a program-record matching 200 prone, to finish third in smallbore. Redshirt-freshman David Koenders shot 587 and finished in fourth place, while Thrasher tallied 583 and placed sixth.
 
Freshman Sarah Osborn shot 580 smallbore and was followed by junior Will Anti, who shot 574. Redshirt-freshman Noah Barker shot 570, and sophomore Jack Anderson finished with a 555 mark.
 
Mackenzie Martin paced the Racers and finished fifth overall with a 584 mark.
 
Gratz matched her season high in air rifle and finished second overall with a 598. Koenders placed third with a 595, while Babic finished in fifth with a 594. Phillips and Anti tied for ninth place with matching 591s.
 
"We had a very strong day in air rifle also, and to shoot the team score we did, events had to be excellent," Hammond noted. "Some excellent scores from Ginny and Elizabeth, who were both battling some physical struggles. They both showed a lot of determination to work through those battles and still perform at a high level."
 
Osborn added a 589 score. Barker shot 582, and Anderson shot 581.
 
Martin also paced Murray State in air rifle with a 595 showing.
 
Five Mountaineers counted toward the team's scores: Babic, Gratz, Koenders, Phillips and Thrasher.
 
With the win, WVU improves to 24-3 all-time against the Racers.
 
The Mountaineers have concluded the fall portion of their 2017-18 schedule and will resume action against Akron on Sunday, January 14, at the WVU Rifle Range.