No. 4 SMU (2-0, 0-0 UEC) at  No. 5 Baylor ( 3-2, 0-1 Big 12)
Date / Time	Sat., Oct. 29  // 11 a.m.
Location	Willis Family Equestrian Center // Waco, Texas (Map)
Live Stats	Live Stats
Facebook	SMU Equestrian| SMU Mustangs
Twitter	@SMUEquestrian | @SMUMustangs

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The No. 4 ranked SMU equestrian program will travel to Waco, Texas, this Saturday to take on No. 5 Baylor at the Willis Equestrian Center. Competition is slated to begin at 11:00 a.m.
 
ABOUT SMU: The Mustangs are 2-0 overall after a 10-8 victory against then-No.9 Oklahoma State. After the win, SMU earned its highest ranking in program history, being ranked No. 4 in the latest National Collegiate Equestrian Association (NCEA) poll. SMU (2-0) surpasses its previous high of fifth after wins at then-No. 3 TCU and most recently then-No. 9 Oklahoma State. Senior Sylvia de Toledo and sophomore Nora Gray return to the hunt seat arena for SMU after picking up Honorable-Mention All-America status a year ago. de Toledo earned honorable mentions in both Equitation Over Fences and Equitation on the Flat, while Gray earned over fences accolades. SMU signed eight riders this off-season, four hunt seat riders and four western riders. Jaclyn White and Madison Steed look to continue their success in the arena after leading the Mustangs in 2015-16 with nine wins apiece.
 
SCOUTING BAYLOR: The Bears have a 3-2 overall record after a 12-8 loss at Oklahoma State. Prior to its loss at OSU, Baylor swept the Willis Invitational, topping New Mexico State, South Dakota State and Fresno State. The Bears are coming off a 2015-16 season with a 13-5 record, including a 7-5 mark in conference and 7-0 at home. Baylor was the Big 12 runner-up last season, and advanced to the NCEA Quarterfinals. The Bears bring back several key riders including first-team All-Americans Savannah Jenkins and Alicia Gasser (both in flat), along with second-teamers Rachel Van Allen and Jenkins (both fences) and Charlotte Green (horsemanship). Baylor also brings back honorable mention All-American Ginger Chant (reining).
 
ALL-TIME AGAINST THE BEARS: Baylor holds an 11-0 all-time advantage over the Mustangs. The last meeting between the two came last season in Dallas, where the then-No. 3 Bears won, 10-7. SMU has not beaten Baylor in regular season or postseason competition, but has topped the Bears in exhibition meets.
 
SMU EARNS HIGHEST RANKING IN PROGRAM HISTORY: The SMU equestrian team earned its highest ranking in program history, being ranked No. 4 in the latest National Collegiate Equestrian Association (NCEA) poll. SMU (2-0) surpasses its previous high of fifth after wins at then-No. 3 TCU and most recently then-No. 9 Oklahoma State. SMU's previous high ranking of fifth came in November of 2014, after the Mustangs topped three consecutive top-10 teams, including No. 1 Georgia, No. 8 Texas A&M and No. 10 New Mexico State.

"I am so excited for our kids and this program to get national recognition with a top five ranking," SMU head coach Carol Gwin said. "Hard work does pay off in many ways and these young women are working very hard. We now travel to Baylor and will need to be at our best to take home a win against a quality program."
 
SMU CAREER WINS LEADERS: Senior Sylvia de Toledo became SMU's all-time career wins leader, after a 79-77 Equitation Over Fences win over TCU's Patty Gill. She passed former teammate Schaefer Raposa. With two wins against Oklahoma State, she now has 55 wins in her tenure on the Hilltop.
 
1. Sylvia de Toledo      55         2013-Present
2. Schaefer Raposa     52         2012-2016
3. Emma Roberts          49         2011-15
4. Kristen Collins           46         2006-10
 
HOME SWEET HOME: The SMU equestrian team has moved to the Dallas Equestrian Center (DEC), which will serve as its official stables and training facility. SMU is 1-0 at the DEC, with victory in its home opener against Oklahoma State. The DEC, which was formally known as Park Lane Stables, resides on 10 acres in the heart of Dallas and is 3.5 miles from the SMU campus. The facility features three indoor arenas with new footings, two new outdoor arenas, and 20 new state-of-the-art paddocks with cover. Renovation plans include upgrades to a tack room and the addition of a club house with locker rooms and coaches' offices. In addition, a 10 horse European horse walker will be added to the facility. The facility is located at 8787 Park Ln, Dallas, TX 75231, across the parking lot from TopGolf Dallas. For more information about the Dallas Equestrian Center, visit DallasEquestrianCenter.com.
 
"This is huge for our program to have the ability to practice at such a high quality facility so close to campus," SMU head coach Carol Gwin said. "I really feel like this will help us create a solid foundation and great fan base for the future of SMU equestrian. We want to encourage the public to come out and learn more about the sport and cheer on the Mustangs."
 
LAST TIME OUT: Last time in the arena, trailing 8-6 to OSU, SMU won four straight points en route to the victory. Sophomore Nora Gray started the rally with an MOP-winning, 79-75, victory. Haley Zimmerman used an 80-75 win to tie the meet, before Vivian Yowan rolled over Maggie Drysch, 72-63, to give the Mustangs a 9-8 lead. With the final point up for grabs, senior Sylvia de Toledo clinched the victory for SMU with a 75-62 win. Earlier in the day, de Toledo won the equitation over fences MOP, and Hannah McCain won the horsemanship MOP.
 
ROLLING IN MOPS: Through two meets, SMU has won four MOPs, three in the hunt seat arena and one in the western ring. Senior Alexis Graves and freshman Nora Gray both won their first collegiate MOP honors, while Hannah McCain and Sylvia de Toledo added to their career totals. McCain has six career honors, and de Toledo has 10.
 
WELCOME TO SMU: SMU Equestrian head coach Carol Gwin signed eight riders this off-season, four hunt seat riders and four western riders. Hunt seat riders are Mary Elizabeth Cordia, Carly Crossfield, Vivian Yowan and Haley Zimmerman. Holly Lansidel, Kara Vickery, Keaton Crawford and Jaclyn Landers make up the western newcomers. "This is a very talented group that we signed this fall," said Gwin.
 
"They excel in both the ring and in the classroom and I believe they will add depth to the equestrian program and represent SMU well."
 
UP NEXT: The Mustangs will host their second meet at Dallas Equestrian Center, as Delaware State comes to town Saturday, Nov. 12. The meet is slated for 10 a.m.
 
A full recap and final results will be made available following the competition on SMUMustangs.com. During the meet, live results can be found on SMUMustangs.com or the SMU equestrian twitter page. Fans are encouraged to follow @SMUEquestrian.