Feb. 26, 2016

COLUMBIA, S.C. – No. 9 South Carolina will wrap-up SEC play on Saturday when the Gamecocks travel to face No. 1 Auburn at the Auburn University Horse Center. Saturday’s meet will begin at 2 p.m. ET.

“Anytime you go against the No. 1 team in the nation, you know that it’s going to be a big challenge,” South Carolina head coach Boo Major said. “Auburn has an experienced and very well-coached team, and we’ll certainly have our work cut out for us tomorrow. But if we can learn from the mistakes we’ve made over the last couple of meets and be able to ride our best, then I think we’ll have a chance at having a successful day.”

SCOUTING SOUTH CAROLINA
– The Gamecocks are 3-7 overall and 0-5 in SEC play.
– South Carolina is currently ninth in the NCEA Rankings.
– All three of the Gamecocks’ final regular season meets will take place on the road.
– South Carolina is currently 1-4 in road meets this season.
– The Gamecocks wrap up the regular season next weekend with a doubleheader at Delaware State.

SCOUTING AUBURN
– The Tigers are 7-1 overall and 3-1 in SEC play.
– Auburn is currently ranked No. 1 in the NCEA Rankings.
– The Tigers have won two meets in a row over the Gamecocks.
– Auburn is undefeated at home this season with a 3-0 record.
– Auburn is closing out its regular season schedule with five meets against either SEC or Big 12 opponents.

LAST MEETING
Then-No. 4 Auburn handed then-No. 2 South Carolina its first loss of the 2015-16 season on Oct. 9, as the Tigers beat the Gamecocks, 14-6. Auburn’s hunt seat team won, 8-2, while the Tigers’ western team won, 6-4. Gamecock senior Abigail Pait was named Most Outstanding Performer in horsemanship after beating her opponent, 72.5-70.

LAST MEETING IN AUBURN
In the two team’s last meeting in Auburn, the Gamecocks won their fifth meet in a row over the Tigers Then-No. 6 South Carolina picked up its first win of the season as the Gamecocks upset then-No. 3 Auburn by a score of 10-9. Carolina went on to win the spring meeting, and in that six-meet winning streak over the Tigers, the Gamecocks outscored Auburn, 65-43. Katherine Schmidt (equitation on the flat) and Sam Chiodo (horsemanship) were both named Most Outstanding Performers.

NCEA RANKINGS – February 23, 2016
1. Auburn (7-1)
2. Georgia (7-2)
3. Texas A&M (8-2)
4. Baylor (9-3)
5. Oklahoma State (6-3)
6. TCU (4-6)
7. SMU (5-5)
8. Fresno State (3-5)
9. South Carolina (3-7)
10. Kansas State (3-4)

UP NEXT
South Carolina wraps up the 2015-16 regular season on March 4, when the Gamecocks face Delaware State and SMU at Delaware State.