Results: UTM 8, SMU 8

LAS CRUCES, N.M. - Five different western riders earned victories to claim the western discipline, 5-3, but the effort fell short as the top-seeded SMU equestrian team fell to No. 4-seed UT Martin via the tiebreaker, 8-8 (2194.5-1835.25) at the New Mexico State Equestrian Center Friday.

"We made a lot of mistakes today," SMU head coach Carol Gwin said. "You cannot win and make the types of errors that we made today. Tomorrow we need to ride like we are competing at Nationals."

The Mustangs nearly swept UTM in reining, winning the event, 3-1. Keagan Snively kicked off reining with a 135.5-134 win over Laney Hixson, before freshman Olivia Pakula topped Kenzie Perry, 135-131.5. Jaclyn White tied the competition at eight with a convincing 132-130.5 victory over Megan Aiosa.

In horsemanship, SMU and the Skyhawks tied, 2-2. Hannah McCain outscored the Skyhawks' Cora Rogalski, 142-138, before Michaela Dinger posted an easy 140-135.5 victory over Brittany Woodard.

In equitation on the flat, Sylvia de Toledo and Schaefer Raposa each recorded their 50th career wins in convincing fashion. de Toledo won the first point for SMU, rolling over Rachel Crinklaw, 124-113, before Raposa, a senior from Clinton, N.Y., recorded a 133-99 rout over Riley Wilson. The duo are the first riders in program history to record 50 wins in a career and are tied for first in career victories, passing Emma Roberts.

Nora Gray earned the lone equitation over fences point for the Mustangs, defeating Ali Scholfield, 156-138. With the victory, Gray improves to 19-8-1 overall this season and matches Kristen Collins for the most victories by a freshman. Collins set the record during the 2006-07 season.

SMU squares off against Delaware State at 11 a.m. CT/10 MT Saturday in round two of the United Equestrian Conference Championships. For live coverage of the UEC Championships, visit SMUMustangs.com or follow the equestrian team on twitter at @SMUEquestrian.

--SMUMustangs.com--