CHARLESTON, S.C. – The 22^nd-ranked Citadel mixed rifle team will host 19^th-ranked North Georgia in a Southern Conference match on Saturday, Feb. 9 at the Inouye Marksmanship Center.

Saturday's match will mark the third meeting this season between the two programs. North Georgia won both of the previous two matchups. The Nighthawks claimed a 4591-4553 win over the 'Dogs on Oct. 6 in a tri-match with then ninth-ranked NC State. The Bulldogs then traveled to Dahlonega, Georgia on Nov. 10, falling 4580-4547 to the 18^th-ranked Nighthawks.

SCOUTING NORTH GEORGIA
UNG has been led this season by sophomores Ricky Medina and Kimberlee Nettles, and junior Tobin Sanctuary. Medina boasts four of the Nighthawks' top five aggregate scores, including a pair of 1170s. Sanctuary's best aggregate score, an 1159 on Nov. 11 against defending national champion Kentucky, is the third-best aggregate score of the year. Nettles posted her best aggregate score, an 1152, back on Oct. 20. Sanctuary has posted three of the team's top five smallbore scores, including a season-best 578 on Jan. 25, but Medina boasts the top two scores, including the top three-position smallbore score of the year, a 584 on Oct. 27. In air rifle, Medina has posted four of the top five scores in the gun on the year, including a 592 on Jan. 25.

LAST TIME OUT
The 22^nd-ranked Citadel mixed rifle team posted its third-best aggregate score of the season, a 4564 on Feb. 2, but came up just short against a strong No. 15 NC State team, which won the head-to-head match with a 4619. The Citadel's women's team finished the match with a 4101 aggregate score.

Freshman Izzie Blystone continued her recent run of strong finishes by recording her best aggregate score of the season, an 1156. The Aiken, South Carolina native also matched her season-best air rifle score with a 585 to lead the Bulldogs. Blystone finished second overall, fourth in three-position smallbore (571) and second in air rifle.

Sophomore Max Brabston finished second on the team in aggregate score (1145), smallbore (562) and air (583) to end up sixth overall in the match.

Junior Alexander McAlear had a strong showing on Saturday, finishing eighth overall with a season-best 1138 aggregate score, made up of a 560 in smallbore and a 578 in air. McAlear's 578 in standing air rifle is his best of the season.

Senior Allison Auten and freshman Emily Perkins rounded out the scoring five for the Bulldogs' mixed team. Auten ended her day with an 1125 aggregate score (554 smallbore, 571 air), ninth-best of the 16 shooters who performed in both guns, while Perkins finished with an 1107 (539 smallbore, 568 air).

The women's team was led by Megan Waters' 1082, including a team-best 535 in smallbore and a 547 in air rifle. Chelsea Sitarik led the women's team with a 554 in air.

Abby Koger ended the day with a 925 aggregate score (452 smallbore, 473 air), Tierra Price posted a 1032 (503 smallbore, 529 air) and Alisha Rabaca ended her day with a 948 (508 smallbore, 440 air).

UP NEXT
The Bulldogs will next compete in an NCAA qualifying match on Saturday, Feb. 16. The match, which will be held in the Inouye Marksmanship Center, will feature the 22^nd-ranked Bulldogs, No. 20 UAB, 24^th-ranked Georgia Southern and No. 26 Wofford.

For more information on The Citadel rifle team, please visit CitadelSports.com or follow @citadel_rifle and @CitadelSports on Twitter and Instagram.