Oct. 21, 2005

Blythewood, S.C. – The USC western riders finished on top Friday afternoon as the Gamecocks defeated the Georgia Bulldogs 610 to 602 in the western competition, but the Bulldogs had a solid hunt seat performance and claimed the overall competition 1202-1184.75. Sophomore Lindsay Williams was the high scorer for the Gamecocks as she recorded 80.5 in her reining competition. Senior Tara Brothers was USC’s high point scorer in the hunt seat as she posted 80 points in equitation over fences.

“It was a close, tough loss, but I want to congratulate Georgia for doing a great job,” said head coach Boo Duncan. “I am really excited about our western team and that we won both reining and horsemanship. We have never done that before in western overall.”

USC outscored UGA 312.5 to 305 in the reining competition, but the excitement came in the horsemanship competition where the Gamecocks edged the Bulldogs 297.5 to 297. Michelle Grah pulled out the win for USC as she beat her opponent Ashley Slocumb by half a point, 73-72.5. Laura Pipkin closed out the event and defeated Anna Hichborn 75-72.5 in the final reining competition.

“We are very excited to win both of our events, reining and horsemanship,” said Pipkin. “Today we rode very strong, stayed focused and remained very positive and rode to the best of our ability.”

Brothers’ was the high scorer for the Gamecocks in both equitation on the flat and over the fences. She defeated her opponent Rachel Berkowitz 80-75 in over the fences, but fell 81-74.5 to Logan Fiorentino. UGA defeated USC 306-282.75 in equitation, and won by two points in over the fences, 294-292. In a combined score, UGA won hunt seat 600-574.75.

“Our hunt team performed very well but we made some mistakes out there and that hit us hard,” said Duncan. “Overall, I am still very pleased with our performance today. We need to get our hunt seat team a little more polished and keep our western team where they are as we head to Auburn in a couple of weeks.”

Kelley Campbell won against her opponent both on the flat and over the fences, while Carly Johns recorded USC’s other win in the flat competition.

“When you look at the points for the English team, it is disappointing but everyone rode well. Georgia just rode better today,” said Brothers, the hunt team captain. “It didn’t come out in our favor, but I am still very proud of everybody.”

The Gamecocks are complete with their fall home schedule and will next travel to Auburn on Nov. 5.