FINAL SCORESHEET

OCALA, Fla. - No. 7 SMU defeated No. 2 Auburn in Thursday's NCEA quarterfinal round of the National Championships. It was a battle of conference champions as the ECAC champs met the SEC champs at the World Equestrian Center.

"Today was one of the top program wins since I've been at SMU," head coach Carol Gwin said. "We're going to celebrate and enjoy the feeling for a little bit, then prepare to take on Texas A&M tomorrow. Hats off to Auburn for being the first to congratulate us and for running an incredible National Championship here in Florida."

The Mustangs (11-6) started the day's action against the Tigers (10-4) in Fences and Horsemanship. Sophomore Taylor Madden won SMU's first point with a score of 241.5 in Flat. Junior Emma Jolly followed, defeating her Auburn opponent 221.5-198 as the Mustangs dropped the event, 3-2.
 
Over in the Western ring, Auburn claimed the first three Horsemanship points before senior Megan Waldron and sophomore Nya Kearns won the final two with scores of 220.5 and 228, respectively. Kearns' tally was the highest score of the event.
 
The Tigers came out of the break with a 6-4 advantage before Flat action got started. Junior Miranda Seade won the event's first point thanks to a score of 233.5. After two Auburn riders claimed victories, senior Madigan Eppink won 238-230 for another Mustang point. Madden followed with a 247-227.5 victory that won her second point of the day as she logged the highest Flat score and helped SMU to a 3-2 event win.
 
SMU surged ahead with a 5-0 victory in Reining to close out the day and seal the win. Junior Dani Latimer claimed the first point of the day with a 220.5 that topped her opponent's 216.5. Sophomore Chalyce Head and freshman Maria Richards tallied the next two points with scores of 214 and 208.5, respectively. The Mustangs led the Tigers 10-8 while junior Taylor Zimmerman and Auburn's Boo Kammerrer waited for a score review. SMU went on to take both of the final points as Zimmerman tallied a 198 and graduate student Jill Pfisthner's 213 topped Kammerrer's 208.5.

The Mustangs advance to the semifinal round with the win and are set to take on No. 3 Texas A&M on Friday afternoon starting at 1 p.m. CT at the World Equestrian Center.