April 20, 2006

Albuquerque, N.M. – In the closest competition of the day, the South Carolina western team fell 857-851 to Oklahoma State in round one of the Varsity Equestrian Championships. No. 6 seed USC lost by six points to the No. 4 seed Cowgirls. The Gamecocks’ Rachel Sternoff was the point spread winner in the competition as she claimed victory over Samantha Davidson by 3.5 points, 140.5-137 in the horsemanship event. The Gamecocks will now face the loser of Texas A&M vs. Kansas State on Friday in an elimination round.

“We had a really close meet today,” said western coach Ruth Sorrell. “We had some tough draws in horsemanship and we had the closest point spread out there today. Oklahoma State is a really good team. Despite some tough breaks, we rode very well. We know whoever we face tomorrow will be a challenge and we will just need to be prepared either way.”

In horsemanship, OSU’s Brianne Wiebe clipped USC senior Allison Bradley by half a point 137.5-137 to start off the day. Katy Biffle lost by three to Jordan Pickleman 143.5-140.5 while freshman Katie Grossnickle rounded out the event with a loss to Brandi Thomas by the same score.

In reining, Sternoff fell to Wiebe 146-145.5, Laura Pipkin lost to Katie Bohr 143-141.5 and Lindsay Williams lost to Jacque Roberts, 143.5-142.5.

South Carolina will face the loser of the Texas A&M/Kansas State competition Friday morning and the loser will be eliminated from the meet. Texas A&M is the defending champion in western, while KSU is the No. 8 seed.

The Gamecock hunt seat team will face Baylor after having a bye in day one. Baylor defeated Sacred Heart 737-657. USC defeated Baylor earlier in the season in Columbia.