No. 7 SMU (4-4, 2-1 ECAC) vs. No. 6 Fresno State (4-3, 1-1 Big 12)
Dallas Equestrian Center – Dallas, Texas
Nov. 19, 2021 – 10 a.m. CT
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No. 7 SMU hosts No. 6 Fresno State on Friday morning for the team's final matchup of the fall slate. The Mustangs and Bulldogs are set to face off starting at 10 a.m. CT at the Dallas Equestrian Center. 

SERIES HISTORY
Fresno State holds a 12-9 series lead over SMU after defeating the Mustangs at their home arena at the beginning of the month. The Bulldogs claimed an 11-7 victory at the Student Horse Center in Fresno on Nov. 6. The meet saw the Mustangs take a 3-2 win in Horsemanship while freshman Elli Yeager was named the MOP in Fences. SMU holds a 7-4 series lead when competing in Dallas.

SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS
Heading into Friday's matchup, Fresno State holds a 4-3 record on the year with wins against South Carolina, TCU, Lynchburg and SMU and losses at Georgia, at Auburn and against Oklahoma State. The Bulldogs and Mustangs have both earned wins against TCU during the 2021-22 campaign and have both fallen to Georgia and Auburn. Both teams have faced off against Oklahoma State with SMU earning a win and Fresno State, a loss. 

DOWN GOES NUMBER ONE!
During a two-win weekend in California, No. 7 SMU took down No. 1 Oklahoma State during a neutral site matchup in Fresno. Three Mustangs earned MOP honors as the team finished with a 10-5 victory, handing the top-seeded Cowgirls their first loss of the season. Oklahoma State had previously claimed wins at Baylor, at home against Auburn and TCU and at Fresno State. 

2021-22 MOST OUTSTANDING PERFORMERS
•     Lily Anderson -- Horsemanship: 1
•     Emma Jolly -- Fences: 2
•     Nya Kearns -- Horsemanship: 2
•     Dani Latimer -- Reining: 1
•     Katy Merchant -- Flat: 1
•     Alex Pielet -- Fences: 2
•     Mallory Vroegh -- Horsemanship: 2
•     Elli Yeager -- Fences: 2
•     Taylor Zimmerman -- Reining: 2

2021-22 ECAC Honors
•     Chalyce Head -- Reining Rider of the Week (Oct. 12)
•     Taylor Madden -- Flat Rider of the Week (Nov. 9)
•     Katy Merchant -- Flat Rider of the Week (Oct. 12)
•     Jill Pfisthner -- Reining Rider of the Week (Nov. 9)
•     Alex Pielet -- Fences Rider of the Week (Oct. 12, Nov. 9)
•     Mallory Vroegh -- Horsemanship Rider of the Week (Oct. 12)
•     Elli Yeager -- Fences Rider of the Week (Oct. 19)

MUSTANGS MADE HISTORY
SMU looks to capitalize off momentum set during the 2020-21 season as the program saw many firsts and records broken. The runner-up finish at NCEA Nationals marked the highest in SMU Equestrian history and capped off a season that saw the Mustangs finish 10-2, the best record in program history, and earn a third consecutive conference championship. SMU had two NCEA Riders of the Year, seven NCEA Ariat All-Americans, five NCEA National Championship award winners, five earn ECAC awards and six named to All-ECAC teams.

GOING BACK-TO-BACK-TO-BACK
SMU earned its third consecutive conference championship at the inaugural ECAC Championship in March of 2021. The Mustangs defeated Delaware State, 8-6, in the semifinal round before defeating UT Martin, 11-4, in the championship matchup. SMU earned five MOPs during the two matchups. The previous two conference championships for SMU came in 2018 and 2019 as members of the United Equestrian Conference before 2020's ECAC Championship was canceled due to COVID-19.

2020-21 NCEA HONORS (current riders)
•     Madigan Eppink – Dover Saddlery Flat Rider of the Month (January)
•     Nya Kearns – Shorty's Horsemanship Rider of the Month (March), Horsemanship First Team All-American
•     Dani Latimer – Reining First Team All-American
•     Taylor Madden – Flat Second Team All-American
•     Becky Morris – Standout Athlete of the Month (March)
•     Devin Seek – Dover Saddlery Fences Rider of the Month (January), Fences First Team All-American
•     Mallory Vroegh – Horsemanship All-America Honorable Mention
•     Megan Waldron – Shorty's Horsemanship Rider of the Month (January), Horsemanship All-America Honorable Mention
•     Olivia Woodson – Fences All-America Honorable Mention

50 WINS FOR CAROL GWIN
Head coach Carol Gwin earned her 50^th win at SMU during the 2021 spring season when the Mustangs defeated South Dakota State at home on Jan. 29. Since starting at SMU in 2014, she has led SMU to three 10-win seasons, three conference championships, a national Reining runner-up title and a National Reserve Champion title. Gwin has coached nine NCEA First Team All-Americans, three NCEA Rider and two Co-Riders of the Year and countless Conference Riders of the Year and All-Conference riders. In 2018 and 2019, she was named back-to-back UEC Coach of the Year after sharing the title as Co-Coach of the Year in 2017.

UP NEXT
SMU will be back in action for the spring portion of the 2021-22 season on Friday and Saturday, Jan. 28 and 29 when the team hosts UT Martin and Delaware State, respectively, at the Dallas Equestrian Center. Both meets are slated for a 10 a.m. CT start.