Cowgirls Capture 2016 Big 12 Championship

Saturday, March 26

Stillwater, OK

10:00 AM

Oklahoma State University

Baylor

March 26, 2016 | Cowgirl Equestrian

Final Box

STILLWATER -- Oklahoma State Equestrian knocked off top-seeded Baylor, 13-6, to win the 2016 Big 12 Championship on Saturday at Totusek Arena.

The victory marks the fourth time in the last five seasons that OSU has won the conference championship.

"Every year is just like the first time," OSU head coach Larry Sanchez said. "Every year it's a different team and we're very proud of their hard work and to come out of it with a conference championship is just awesome."

OSU's Amy White defeated BU's Alicia Gasser in Equitation on the Flat, 163-155, clinching the title for the Cowgirls.

White won both of her points in the Hunter seat competition as she knocked off Brittney Mirkov in Equitation Over Fences, 157-143.

The meet began with the Fences competition, where OSU's Carly Barrick scored a 174 to lock up the 3-2 victory for the Cowgirls.

The win was Barrick's ninth in the event this season. She was honored as a member of the All-Big 12 Fences team after the meet.

OSU's two other Fences' points came from Maggie Drysch, who defeated BU's Paige Parker 143-134, and White's victory over Mirkov.

In Horsemanship, OSU and BU rode to a 2-2 draw after Miranda Reed and the Lady Bears' Abbi Demel both scored 143 in the event.

"We tied in Horsemanship, but we don't consider that a loss at all," senior Ty Paris said afterward. "They have a great group and we definitely stepped it up from yesterday."

Paris, who was named the Big 12's 2016 Horsemanship Rider of the Year today, clinched a crucial point for OSU as she outscored BU's Bray Bergstrom by a half point, 142.5-142.

Kirsten Chamberland won the Cowgirls' second point of the event by defeating Charlotte Green, 145-142.5.

OSU pulled away from the Lady Bears in the Reining and Flat competitions, winning both events 4-1.

White, Drysch and Kendall Pedigo won their matchups against BU in Flat, with Drysch and White tying for the Cowgirls' high score of the event at 163. As the final OSU rider of the day, Jorden Davis scored a 162 in the Flat completion to knock off Rachel Van Allen of Baylor.

With the win over Baylor, OSU improves to 8-1-4 in Reining this season.

After the championship meet, four Cowgirls – Carly Barrick (Fences), Ty Paris (Horsemanship), Jorden Davis (Flat) and Ebba Lange (Reining) - were named to the All-Big 12 Team at the awards ceremony with one rider representing OSU in each of the four events.

"We had a great day today," Sanchez said. "They all rode aggressively and that's what we expect day in and day out, but we've still got some work to do before the national championships coming up in a few weeks.

"Right now we're going to enjoy this conference championship though."

Up next for the Cowgirls is the NCEA National Championship, which will be held April 14-16 in Waco, Texas.

For all the latest Cowgirl Equestrian news and updates, follow @OSUEquestrian on Twitter and Instagram.

Cowgirl Scores:

Flat: Drysch 163, White 163, Barrick 156, Davis 162, Pedigo 156

Fences: Jones 171, Davis 151, Drysch 143, White 157, Barrick 174

Horsemanship: Collins 141.5, Paris 142.5, Chamberland 145, Nottingham 142, Reed 143

Reining: Peters 142, Willoughby 133.5, Lange 131.5, Purus 144, Cohen 135