FINAL SCORESHEET | Postgame Press Conference

WACO, Texas (SMU) – No. 4 SMU defeated No. 5 Texas A&M in raw score after tying at seven to advance to the semifinal round of the NCEA National Championships at the Extraco Events Center on Thursday. The final raw score was 3698.5-3693.5.

"What a competition we had today," head coach Carol Gwin said. "We started off the day really strong and it was great, but we only have three athletes who have been to a national championship. Our greenness came out a little bit over the fences, but fortunately our Western team, who has done it time and time again, helped bail us out and we got the win in the tiebreaker."

The Mustangs (9-1) started the day tying the Aggies (4-6) in Horsemanship, with each school winning two points apiece. Aubrey Alderman won her fifth consecutive point with a 221.5 for the first SMU point of the day. Nya Kearns continued her undefeated season with a score of 224, which topped her opponent by 10.5.

SMU won the Flat event, 3-0, after Miranda Seade scored a 207 to tie her opponent. Madigan Eppink's 210 won the first event point for the Mustangs and was followed by Taylor Madden's 231, which was the highest Flat score between the Mustangs and Aggies. Olivia Woodson finished the event with a 229 in a re-ride to top her opponent by 12.

The Mustangs held a 5-2 lead going into the second half of the quarterfinal matchup.

In Reining, SMU earned a 2-1 win with Aubrey Alderman tying her point at 207.5. Dani Latimer scored a 216 for a two-point win over her Aggie opponent and Jill Pfisthner earned her Mustang point with a score of 213.5.

Texas A&M won all four points in Fences, which tied the two teams at seven apiece. The final result came down to raw score, which the Mustangs won by five, 3698.5-3693.5.

SMU advances to the semifinals and will take on No. 8 Baylor, who defeated No. 1 Auburn with a final score of 8-7. The Mustangs and the Bears will meet on Friday, April 16 for a chance to compete in the dual discipline National Championship final.