FINAL BOX    |     2018-19 SEASON SCORE SHEETS

MARTIN, Tennessee (SMU) – One step closer to clinching the conference crown, the defending 2018 UEC Champs, No. 6 SMU, are bound for the UEC Finals, after topping tournament host No. 10 UT Martin 12-4 (2333-2249), Friday at the Ned McWherter Agricultural Pavilion.

    Since the UEC's birth in 2013, six different teams have held the coveted conference title in six years. Each year the victors were also the hosts. With their eighth victory on the season, the Mustangs (8-4, 4-0 UEC) remain undefeated in conference play and break the tradition of the host school taking home the championship title.

    Following Friday's victory, the No. 1-seed Mustangs, now, move on to face third-seed No. 9 Fresno State in the UEC Championship final round, taking place this Saturday (March 23) at 10 a.m.

    Led by a dominant 4-0 sweep in Horsemanship, the Mustangs rise to a 10-4 record in their all-time series history with The Skyhawks, and look to repeat the conference glory they accomplished last season.

    The Mustangs are ranked No. 3 in the nation over fences, the NCEA announced Tuesday in its most recent Event Rankings. Surging out to a strong start, SMU's Hunter Seat squad went 3-1 to win the first event over UT Martin. SMU's fences team has compiled the most Ws for the Red & Blue, with seven total on the season.

    Senior team captain Nora Gray won her point over Skyhawk opponent, Kelby Kane, 171-165. Additionally, Gray posted the event-high score (80 & 86), riding Dawson to improve to a 10-2-1 record over fences.

    Vivian Yowan earned a 162-156 win, facing Abbie Hopkins, on Finn, while freshman Tali DeJong also won her point, 147-146, against UT Martin's Brooke Pfeiffer on Franco.

    During her junior campaign, Yowan has earned an 8-4 record over fences and gone 10-2-1 on the flat, so far.

    On the Western side, SMU's Horsemanship girls prevailed with a 4-0 sweep, conquering every point in the event.

    Freshman Mallory Vroegh posted a career-high and event-high 76 & 77, to combine for a score of 153 on Hank. Vroegh rises to a 7-4 record in her event, after surpassing UT Martin's Bailey Newlin, 153-139.5 (13.5-point advantage).

    Senior Haylee Schoonover won her point, riding Cheq to defeat Skyhawk Devon Woods, 149.5-143.5, as freshman Megan Waldron went 150.5-147 on Winnie B to eclipse opponent, Lucy Eler, and earn the win.

    Senior Ashley Mauney, also earned acclaim, after outscoring Tess Baumann, 144.5-139 to win her point on Mo. Schoonover and Mauney snagged their sixth and fifth win, respectively, in Horsemanship on the season.

    The Mustangs were met with more success on the flat, with Gray and junior Haley Zimmerman both winning their points.

    Riding Rose, Gray earned a 165-147 (18-point) win over Abbie Hopkins, to clinch her second point of the day for the Mustangs. Throughout her collegiate career, the Owen Sound, Ontario, Canada, product, has earned 76 wins, which furthers her lead for the most all-time wins in program history.

    Zimmerman, too, emerged triumphantly over UT Martin's Quinn Reed, 136-113, on Wilson, outscoring her opponent by 23 points.

    After garnering a substantial lead, the Mustangs brought it home in the final event.

    In Reining, sophomore Aubrey Alderman bested her adversary, Noel Meadows, on Trash, with a 13-point margin of victory. She posted a 133.5-120.5 triumph and moved to six wins in 2018-19 action.

    Senior team captain Madison Steed earned her seventh win of the season, by riding to a 138-134 triumph over Tess Baumann on Tivvy.

    With a final 140-136.5 win over Skyhawk foe, Madii Mykolaits, freshman Savannah Ostner clinched her sixth season victory, riding Will to seal away the Mustangs' win.
 
    Up next, No. 6 SMU is set for Saturday-morning meet action against No. 9 Fresno State. Following the conclusion of the conference championship, the Ponies will return to NCEA Nationals, beginning on April 16 in Waco, Texas.