No. 4 Gamecocks Head for Texas

COLUMBIA, SC – The No. 4 South Carolina Equestrian team (6-3, 1-3) is set to head out for Texas, taking on No. 1 TCU (8-0, 4-0) and No. 2 Texas A&M (6-1, 3-0). The Gamecocks will meet with the Frogs on Friday, Feb. 9 at 11:00 a.m., followed by the Aggies on Saturday, Feb. 10 at 2:00 p.m.

LAST TIME OUT

The Gamecocks started out the spring slate with a bang, taking down then-ranked No. 4 Auburn 11-9 in the final ride to defeat the Tigers for the first time in nearly a decade. South Carolina’s reining squad swept Auburn 5-0 to finish out the meet, recording the first-ever sweep in the event over the Tigers in program history. The victory was the Gamecocks’ third this season, with senior Emma Lane (Reining) and junior Mary Hunter Millet (Flat) earning MOP honors.

SCOUTING THE FROGS

Friday’s meeting with TCU will be the 13th all-time between the two programs (in full team meets). The Gamecocks have a 9-3 series advantage, but most recently faced a 7-8 loss in the 2021 season in the last matchup.

The No. 1 ranked team in the nation heads into the meet coming off a 12-7 win over Fresno State, advancing to 8-0 for the first time in program history. The Frogs earned all four Most Outstanding Performer awards for the second meet in a row. Ashleigh Scully, Laurel Smith, Jessica McAllister and Giorgia Medows took the honors in Fences, Flat, Horsemanship and Reining, respectively.

SCOUTING THE AGGIES

Saturday’s meet with Texas A&M will be the 41st all-time. The Aggies hold a 28-12 lead in the series, taking nine of the last 10 meets against South Carolina. The Gamecocks most recently saw the Aggies in the fall (Nov. 3), coming close but falling short 8-10. Despite the loss, Alyssa Jipping recorded a new career high in Horsemanship witha 76.5, while Alexa Aureliano (Fences) and Emma Lane (Reining) each picked up their first MOP honors of the season.

The Gamecocks won the overall Western battle against the Aggies 5-4, the first time doing so since winning a 5-5 tiebreaker in raw scores back in February of 2020. It was the first outright win since a 6-4 victory in 2018.

Texas A&M heads into the meet coming off a 10-0 sweep of Dartmouth (Jumping Seat only), marking just the fourth time in program history and the second this season that the Aggies have accomplished the feat.

FAN INFO

Fans are encouraged to follow along with in meet updates on X and Instagram, @GamecockEQ.