Ezell Sets Career-Highs At Withrow Invitational

Saturday, January 20

Murray, Ky.

9 am

University of Memphis

Withrow Invitational

Photo by: Joe Murphy

Jan 22, 2018 | Rifle

Dempster ties career-best air rifle score at last weekend's event.

MURRAY, Ky. – Sophomore Amberlie Ezell shot a career-high aggregate in leading the University of Memphis rifle squad to a fourth-place finish at the 2018 Withrow Invitational last weekend. Murray State hosted the event at the Pat Spurgin Rifle Range, the Racers' on-campus facility.

Kentucky, ranked No. 3 in the nation, won the Withrow Invitational with a 4696 aggregate (2328-2368). Murray State, No. 4 in the country, was second (4685), following by No. 14 Jacksonville State (4648), No. 16 Memphis (4646) and No. 18 UT Martin (4620).

Ezell posted her career-best aggregate at 1169 (581-588) Saturday. Her previous-best aggregate was 1159 (577-582) at last year's Withrow Invitational.

Up Next
The Tigers travel to Lexington, Ky., Jan. 27 to face No. 3 Kentucky. Match time is 8 a.m. (CT).

Tigers Tidbits

The Tigers' 4646 aggregate was the team's second-best of the season. Memphis shot a 4663 aggregate against TCU Oct. 28.
Memphis placed fourth in smallbore (2295) and third in air rifle (2351).
Amberlie Ezell's 1169 aggregate put her in eighth place. She was the lone Tiger with a top-10 aggregate finish.
Ezell shot a career-high 581 in smallbore and placed eighth in the discipline. Her previous-best was 577 in last year's Withrow Invitational.
Ezell's 588 air rifle mark was one shy of tying her career-best of 589. She shot that career-best 589 twice last season at the Withrow Invitational and in a tri-match with Nebraska and Jacksonville State.
Junior Leighton Dempster tied her career-best in air rifle with a 593 score. She also shot a 593 in the match versus TCU Oct. 28, 2017.
Dempster was Memphis' top shooter in air rifle with her 593, placing third in the discipline.
The Withrow Invitational was the sixth match this season in which Dempster shot a 591 or higher in air rifle. In her previous two seasons, she shot 591 or better only once.
Dempster's 1164 aggregate (571-593) was the fourth-best of her career. She shot a career-best 1167 vs. West Virginia earlier this season. She also recorded 1166 aggregates twice at the 2017 Withrow Invitational (Murray State) and 2015 NCAA Championships Rehearsal (Akron).
Freshman Matt Dorey shot a 1157 (573-584) aggregate at the Withrow Invitational. His 573 smallbore and 584 air rifle scores tied his second-best marks of the season. His 1157 aggregate was his second-best total of 2017-18.

Team/National Rank	Smallbore	Air Rifle	Aggregate
Kentucky/#3	2328	2368	4696
Murray State/#4	2329	2356	4685
Jacksonville State/#14	2307	2341	4648
Memphis/#16	2295	2351	4646
UT Martin/#18	2288	2332	4620
North Georgia/#19	2291	2321	4612
UAB	2238	2279	4517
UT Martin (women only)	2234	2264	4498

Memphis Individuals	Smallbore	Air Rifle	Aggregate
Amberlie Ezell*^	581	588	1169
Leighton Dempster*^	571	593	1164
Matt Dorey*^	573	584	1157
Levi Clark*	570	579	1149
Haylea Broughton	571	575	1146
Makennon Doran	557	587	1144
Adriana Hickerson^	552	586	1138
Abby Votava	DNS	579	579
Eli Rischling	560	DNS	560