Oklahoma State University Athletics
Oklahoma State University
SMU
Cowgirls Oust Mustangs in Totusek Arena
February 16, 2019 | Cowgirl Equestrian
Scoresheet
STILLWATER – Oklahoma State's eighth-ranked equestrian team defeated No. 2 SMU, 13-7, Saturday in Totusek Arena.
OSU, which improved to 3-5 on the season, got out to a quick lead, taking Equitation Over Fences, 3-2, as Hannah Janson, Katie Schell and Abigail Brayman earned victories for the Cowgirls. Brayman, a sophomore, earned Most Outstanding Performer in Fences, her third such honor of the season and eighth of her career. Schell, a sophomore, has won three of her last four meets in Fences.
"Katie (Schell) is someone that has to process everything that she does," OSU head coach Larry Sanchez said. "She is finding herself and what she needs to do, mentally, to be ready to compete at this level. I think it's all coming together for her because she's figured out how to process and execute."
The Cowgirls defeated SMU in Horsemanship, 4-1. Emma Verplank won her first MOP for her performance on Scotty, in which she bested Megan Waldron by a 75.5-74.5 count. Sarah Miller, Harley Huff and Natalie Alcorn were victorious in their matchups as well. Miller, Huff and Alcorn have won five, four and three straight matchups, respectively.
Up 7-3 at the halfway point, the Cowgirls showed no signs of slowing down as they clinched Equitation on the Flat, 3-2. Schell recorded her second victory of the day and a season-high score of 86 on the Flat. Brayman followed suit and notched her second victory of the day on the Flat as well.
"I was really excited with the flat team," Brayman said. "I thought that we rode better than we usually do. Not that we don't usually ride well, but we've just had little spurts here and there. Today I thought everyone was good overall."
Standout freshmen Katie Pelzel and Sydnie Ziegler both recorded season highs in their matchups, Pelzel in victory and Ziegler in defeat.
With the overall lead at 10-5, the No. 3 OSU reining team took down SMU's second-ranked squad, 3-2, to put an exclamation point on the upset victory. In the event, Kristi Wiggins scored a season-high 72.5 on Boss, while Stephanie Helsen won her fourth point in her last five meets.
"(Myself and the coaching staff) know this team has the ability to ride with the best teams in the country," Sanchez. "We were on the road a lot in the fall and went up against some tough teams and fell short on most of those. It was good to be back in Stillwater, and it's good to see the girls' confidence is where it is and that they were able to compete at this level."
The Cowgirls return to Totusek Arena for a Big 12 meet against TCU on Feb. 23 at 10 a.m.
