Nov. 5, 2015

COLUMBIA, S.C. – No. 6 South Carolina returns to Texas for the second time in a week, as the Gamecocks will face No. 3 Baylor and Southern Methodist in a pair of road meets this weekend. Carolina will face Baylor at 2 p.m. ET on Friday at the Willis Family Equestrian Center, and the Gamecocks will face SMU at 11 a.m. ET on Saturday at Sleepy P Ranch. Admission is free to both meets.

“We’ve had a short week of practice to prepare but I also think we’ve had a productive week since we got back from Texas A&M,” South Carolina head coach Boo Major said. “Competing back-to-back days on the road is certainly a challenge, especially against two really good teams in SMU and Baylor, I know we’ll have our work cut out for us. We’ve been working on correcting some of the issues that hurt us last week at Texas A&M, and I feel like if we can get this group firing on all cylinders, then certainly we’ll be in a much better position. From a leadership standpoint, I’d like to see a little more from our seniors and juniors in terms of helping our younger riders. With a lot of newcomers in the lineup, it’s important for our veteran riders to take on that leadership role and help get us moving forward.”

SCOUTING SOUTH CAROLINA
• The Gamecocks are currently 2-2 overall and 0-2 in SEC play.
• South Carolina is currently ranked sixth in the latest NCEA Rankings.
• The Gamecocks’ next three meets are on the road, two of which will be against conference champions (Baylor, Georgia).
• Six of the Gamecocks’ next nine meets will take place on the road

SCOUTING BAYLOR
• The Bears are currently 5-1 overall and 2-1 in Big 12 play.
• Baylor is currently ranked third in the latest NCEA Rankings.
• The Bears opened the season winning five straight meets.
• Baylor is coming off a 13-7 loss at Oklahoma State on Halloween.

SCOUTING SOUTHERN METHODIST
• The Mustangs are currently 1-3 overall and 1-1 in the United Equestrian Conference.
• Southern Methodist finished as the runner-up at last year’s UEC Championship.
• Two of the Mustangs’ three losses have been by one point or less.
• Southern Methodist’s next four meets will take place at home, before the Mustangs close out the regular season with five straight away or neutral site meets.

NCEA TEAM RANKINGS – Nov. 3, 2015
1. Georgia (4-0)
2. Auburn (3-0)
3. Baylor (5-1)
4. Oklahoma State (3-2)
5. Texas A&M (3-1)
6. South Carolina (2-2)
7. TCU (3-2)
8. Fresno State (3-4)
9. New Mexico State (2-5)
10. UT-Martin (1-3)

LAST TIME VS. BAYLOR
The Gamecocks and Bears last met on April 18, 2015 in the semifinals at the NCEA National Championship. Then-senior Katherine Schmidt won her final two points as a Gamecock in a meet that South Carolina never trailed. The Gamecocks upset Baylor, 10-6, to advance to the national championship.

LAST TIME AT BAYLOR
The Gamecocks and Bears last faced off at the Willis Family Equestrian Center on Nov. 17, 2012. Then-No. 1 South Carolina suffered its first lost of the season to fall to 4-1, as the Gamecocks fell 9-8 to Baylor. Senior Samantha Smith is the only Gamecock in Friday’s lineup that has won a point at Baylor. As a redshirt freshman, she won her jumping point, 83-71 as part of a 3-1 win in equitation over fences.

LAST TIME VS. SOUTHERN METHODIST
The Gamecocks last faced the Mustangs on Jan. 31, 2015 in Blythewood. Then-No. 3 South Carolina won its fifth straight meet of the season as the Gamecocks defeated the Mustangs, 13-2. Then-sophomore Kara Guertin (reining) and then-sophomore Bailey Mierzejewski (horsemanship) won their first career Most Outstanding Player awards.

LAST TIME AT SOUTHERN METHODIST
The Gamecocks and Mustangs last faced off in Texas on Nov. 18, 2012. In a hunt seat-only competition, South Carolina overcame a one-point deficit twice, but then-No. 10 Southern Methodist held on for a 5-4 win over the Gamecocks. Senior Samantha Kraus is the only current Gamecock that has ever competed at SMU before, as she held her Mustang opponent to an 82-82 tie in equitation on the flat.

NEXT UP
The Gamecocks will close out the fall portion of their schedule on Nov. 21 when South Carolina travels to Bishop, Ga. to face No. 1 Georgia. The Gamecocks defeated the Bulldogs, 10-6, to win the 2015 NCEA National Championship.