No. 5 SMU (1-0, 0-0 UEC) vs. No. 7 Baylor (1-1, 0-1 Big 12)
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The fifth-ranked SMU equestrian team returns to action Saturday versus No. 7 Baylor at Dallas Equestrian Center. The competition is slated to begin at 10:00 a.m. All fans are encouraged to join, as admission is free of charge. The home of SMU equestrian, Dallas Equestrian Center, is located at 8787 Park Ln, Dallas, Texas 75231, across the parking lot from TopGolf Dallas.
 
COACH GWIN QUOTABLES: "We are looking forward to a good competition on Saturday. I want our girls to improve upon their performances from the past competition so we can keep moving forward at a team."
 
SCOUTING THE MUSTANGS: SMU is 1-0 following a season-opening 11-8 victory against then-No. 6 TCU. The Mustangs claimed the hunt seat disciplines, 6-3, before riding to a 5-5 draw on the western saddle. Alexandra Murphy and Kara Vickery each claimed their first career most outstanding player (MOP) honors following the event. Nora Gray opened the campaign by winning both of her points (85-76 on the flat, 81-80 over fences). The Mustangs have 13 new faces on the squad, all bringing impressive accolades under their belts. SMU also returns 20 members from 2016 team, including two 2016-17 NCEA All-America honorees Vivian Yowan and Keagan Snively. SMU also brings back 2015-16 NCEA All-America Nora Gray.
 
LAST TIME OUT: (W, 11-8 at SMU) DALLAS (SMU) – The eighth-ranked SMU equestrian team downed No. 6 TCU, 11-8, in the season opener at the Dallas Equestrian Center. The Mustangs (1-0) jumped out to a 4-1 lead after Equitation Over Fences. Sophomore Vivian Yowan won SMU's first point with an 86-84 decision over Carley Barnett. Newcomer Brett Burlington used an 83 to top Raegan Rast's 80 for the second point, before Nora Gray edged Alex Beneson, 81-80, to give SMU a 3-1 lead. Alexandra Murphyscored the final point of the discipline and won her first collegiate most outstanding player (MOP) honor with a dominant 86-81 win over Patricia Gill. In Reining, the Mustangs won two points, behind wins from Holly Lansidel and Jill Pfisthner. Lansidel earned SMU's first point with a 65.5-59.5 rout of Josie Ferrante, before Pfisthner tallied a 70.5 to knock off Claire Dittrich's 69.5. SMU and TCU rode to a 2-2 tie in Equitation on the Flat. Gray opened scoring with an easy 85-76 win over Misty Redd, before Mary Elizabeth Cordia won her first collegiate point with an 82-73 rout of Gill. Up 8-6 with the five Horsemanship points remaining, the Mustangs sealed the victory with a 3-2 discipline win. Ashley Mauney opened scoring with a 73-72.5 edge over Marah Huston. Sophomore Kara Vickery sealed the victory with an MOP-winning 75-73 decision over Cydney Benes. The point is her first collegiate point. Michaela Dinger posted a 72.5 to round off the day, resulting in a 72.5-71.5 win over Josie Mootz.
 
SCOUTING BAYLOR: The Bears have a 1-1 overall record following a 14-4 loss at Oklahoma State.
 
ALL-TIME AGAINST THE BEARS: Baylor holds a 13-0 all-time advantage over the Mustangs. The last meeting between the two down to a tiebreaker decision, but the Bears managed to squeak out an 8-8 (989 - 941.75) win in Fresno, Calif.
 
UP NEXT: SMU will host Oklahoma State on Saturday, Oct. 21. The meet is slated for 10 a.m.
 
MURPHY NAMED SEPTEMBER UEC OVER FENCES RIDER OF THE MONTH: Junior Alexandra Murphy was named the United Equestrian Conference (UEC) September Equitation Over Fences Rider of the Month, the National Collegiate Equestrian Association (NCEA) announced. The award is the first of her career. In the first meet of the season, Murphy recorded a career-high 86 over fences to knock off the Horned Frogs' Patricia Gill, 86-81. The ride stood out to the judges and was enough for her first career most outstanding player (MOP) honor.
2017 ACCOLADES:
Alexandra Murphy – UEC Rider of the Month (September) – 10/12/2017
 
ALL-AMERICAN CORNER: SMU returns two of its NCEA All-American's from the 2016-17 season in Vivian Yowan and Keagan Snively.
 
Yowan, an NCEA All-American Over Fences Second Team selection, posted a team-best 19-7-2 record, with an 11-3 mark over fences and 8-4-2 on the flat. The Darien, Conn., native was named the United Equestrian Conference (UEC) Equitation on the Flat Rider of the Year after posting a 7-3-1 record in the regular-season. Yowan also earned the Equitation Over Fences Freshman of the Year honor, following an 8-3 regular-season record which included four MOPs.
 
Following a 10-3 record and five MOPs, Snively was named to the NCEA Reining second team, and became the first western rider in program history to earn All-America status. The Winter Haven, Fla., posted an 8-3 mark, with four MOPs in the regular season, before back-to-back wins at the UEC Championship earned her the UEC Championship Reining MOP.
 
PLAYING HOST: For the first time in program history, the SMU equestrian team will host the United Equestrian Conference tournament. The championship event will take place at SMU's home, the Dallas Equestrian Center, on March 30 and 31.
 
2016-17 RECAP: Last season, SMU posted a 7-7 overall record and finished atop the United Equestrian Conference for the second straight season with a 4-1 mark. After finishing tied for first in the regular season, the Ponies earning runner-up honors at the UEC Championship. After wins at then-No. 3 TCU and against then-No. 9 Oklahoma State to open the season, SMU earned its highest ranking in program history being ranked No. 4 in the National Collegiate Equestrian Association (NCEA) poll.
 
COACHING CORNER: Head coach Carol Gwin enters her fourth season as the head coach of the equestrian program. Gwin guided the Mustangs to a 7-7 overall record in 2016-17 and led the Mustangs to the top of the UEC for the second straight year with a 4-1 conference mark. The Mustangs finished the regular-season tied for first, before earning runner-up honors at the UEC Championship. After wins at then-No. 3 TCU and against then-No. 9 Oklahoma State to open the season, SMU earned its highest ranking in program history being ranked No. 4 in the National Collegiate Equestrian Association (NCEA) poll. In 2016-17, Gwin was named the United Equestrian Conference Co-Coach of the Year, and boasted four NCEA All-America honorees, including two second-team nods. The hunt seat program finished the season with a 9-3-2 combined record and outscored opponents 77-47. The western team finished with a 5-7-2 combined record, with a 7-6-1 record in horsemanship. SMU riders won 25 Most Outstanding Player awards.