No. 5 SMU (2-0, 0-0 UEC) vs. No. 4 Oklahoma State (1-0, 1-0 Big 12)
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The fifth-ranked SMU equestrian team returns to action Saturday versus No. 4 Oklahoma State 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: "I think playing OSU this weekend will be the toughest test, we'll have faced thus far as a team," SMU head coach Carol Gwin said. "I feel like we are practicing well and we look to be prepared. We need to be mistake free to get the win and defend our home turf."
 
SCOUTING THE MUSTANGS: SMU is 2-0 following a 10-10 (1510-1464) tiebreak win against then-No. 7 Baylor. The Mustangs claimed the hunt seat disciplines, 6-4, while adding four points in the reining event. 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, 10-10 (1510-1464)) at SMU) DALLAS (SMU) – The fifth-ranked SMU equestrian team defeated No. 7 Baylor in a 10-10 (1510-1464) tiebreak decision Saturday afternoon at the Dallas Equestrian Center. The victory marks the first win against Baylor in program history. The meet came down to the equitation on the flat event, where SMU managed a 3-2 discipline win to claim the victory. Trailing 10-7 with three points remaining, Mary Elizabeth Cordia used an 82 to rout Sam Howell, 82-68. Haley Zimmerman would cut the Mustang deficit to one with an 86-79 win against Michelle Mallett, before Vivian Yowanrolled over Rachel Van Allen, 85-70, to force the tie-breaker. Yowan's victory stood out to the judges and was enough to earn the Equitation on the Flat Most Outstanding Player (MOP) honor. The day started with Equitation Over Fences, where SMU would take an early 3-2 lead. Yowan won her first point of the day with an 83-82 edge of Gabby Conte, before Hayley Banas picked up a 78-76 win against Abby Jorgensen. Brett Burlington produced the third and final SMU over fences win, 82-81, to knock off Gia Gulino. SMU took a 7-3 lead into halftime after winning Reining, 4-1. Junior Madison Steed defeated Abbi Demel, 71-63.5, before sophomore Holly Lansidel earned a 71-69.5 win over Carly Salter. Senior Keagan Snively topped Charlotte Green, 66-58.5, and junior Olivia Pakula defeated Sydney Scheckel, 70-58. With the win, SMU improved to 2-0 overall, while the Bears fell to 1-2.
 
SCOUTING OKLAHOMA STATE: The Cowgirls have a 1-0 overall record following a 14-4 rout of Baylor. Six NCEA All-American selections return for OSU with Hannah Mitchell leading the way. The sophomore is coming off a season that saw her take home the NCEA and Big 12 Reining Rider of the Year award. Seniors Maggie Drysch and Ebba Lange give the Cowgirls extra experience and success, for they were second-team All-American selections.
 
ALL-TIME AGAINST THE COWGIRLS: SMU is 2-8 all-time against Oklahoma State. The Mustangs claimed the last meeting, 10-8, last season in the season-opener. When riding in Dallas, SMU is 2-2 all-time.
 
UP NEXT: SMU hits the road for the first time this year, heading to Martin, Tenn., for the UT Martin Tournament. The tournament will feature three conference shows. The Mustangs take on Delaware State and UT Martin on Nov. 9, before rounding off the fall schedule against Fresno State the following day.
 
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
 
SMU MOPs:
Alexandra Murphy – Fences (86-81 vs. TCU)
Kara Vickery – Horsemanship (75-73 vs. TCU)
Vivian Yowan – Flat (86-70 vs. Baylor)
 
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.