No. 4 Auburn topples No. 5 SMU, 14-6

Press Release

AUBURN, Ala.  – The No. 4 Auburn equestrian team defeated the fifth-ranked SMU Mustangs, 14-6, on Friday at the Auburn University Horse Center. With the win, the Tigers move to 4-3 on the season.

“It was a good win. This was a measuring stick after coming back from the break to see where we are,” head coach Greg Williams said. “For the most part, we just made some tweaks. There are some things we need to elevate. SMU is such a good Hunt Seat team. They are so strong, and our girls turned it on. Those were such huge scores and our rides were matching it. I think they knew coming in that SMU was a really strong Hunt Seat team, and they rose up to that. They rode with the intent to win.”

In Equitation over Fences, Auburn jumped out to a 4-1 lead as senior Demi Stiegler was named MOP following her 89-86 victory over Leina King. Sophomore Ashley Foster defeated Sylvia De Toledo, 81-76, while junior Elizabeth Benson topped Emma Roberts, 87-85. In her first career meet, freshman Halie Robinson defeated Alex Butterworth, 83-50.

“Halie has ridden so many horses in some of the biggest national events you can get in, and now she has been able to ride at the collegiate level and be on a team, and she told me it was nerve wrecking,” Williams said. “She did a great job today. She is going to have a great career as a collegiate rider.”

In Horsemanship, junior Griffin Knight defeated Morgan Redwine, 75-73.5, to earn MOP honors. Senior Lucy Igoe improved to 4-0 on the season, knocking off Jaclyn White, 72.5-70. Senior Katie Buff defeated Kristen Schramm, 72-70.5, to give the Tigers a 7-3 advantage at the break.

Senior Katsy Leeman, junior Hailey Munger and freshman Alexa Rivard recorded victories in Reining as Auburn lead 10-5 heading into the last event. Leeman edged out Redwine, 68-67.5, while Munger defeated Jaclyn White, 69.5-68.5, and was named MOP. Rivard scored a 69 to earn the point over Keagan Snively, who scored a 67.5.

Benson was named MOP in Equitation on the Flat, as the Whitehouse Station, N.J., native clinched the win for the Tigers, recording the SEC’s highest score in the event this season (97), to defeat Leina King’s 78. Sophomore Tory Hoft scored a 90 to top Greer Hindle’s 78, while Stiegler defeated Emma Roberts, 89-84. Senior Jennifer Delman posted a 95 to earn the 14^th point for Auburn, defeated Alex Butterworth, 95-83.

The Tigers will return to the Auburn University Horse Center on Saturday, Feb. 14, as the Tigers host No. 9 Georgia at 1 p.m. CT.

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