Feb. 2, 2018
WACO, Texas ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃƒÆ'¢'¬" The No. 5 Auburn equestrian team kicked off a long road weekend at No. 8 Baylor Friday and fell to the Bears, 9-8. The Tigers moved to 3-3 overall with the loss.
"I thought most of our rides were really good today," head coach Greg Williams said. "I just wish we would have come out ahead on some of the scores. Baylor ran a great meet and they rode really well."
Highlighting the afternoon was the performance of senior Alexa Rivard. With her 65.5-64 Reining win over Baylor's Charlotte Green, she tied Indy Roper's (2009-13) career wins record with 34 during her time on the Plains.
The Tigers went undefeated in Equitation Over Fences to kick off the meet, picking up three wins and two ties. Freshman Taylor St. Jacques earned MOP honors in the event for the first time in her career, topping Madison Day with 84 points. Juniors Hayley Iannotti and Ashton Alexander each bested their opponents, scoring 86 and 83 points, respectively. Classmates Caitlin Boyle and Alex Ladove ended their matches in a tie.
Junior Betsy Brown joined Rivard in the win column in Reining, topping Georgia Smith, 71.5-67.5. Brown was awarded her second MOP honor of the year for the ride.
Auburn went into the half with a slim 5-3 advantage.
Boyle and St. Jacques were victorious in Equitation on the Flat for the Tigers in the second half. Boyle tied her season-best score of 86, while St. Jacques edged Brittney Mirkov, 67-63.
Redshirt junior Kelsey Jung continued her winning ways in Horsemanship and picked up her team-leading sixth victory of the season. She bested Kaylee Mellott, 73.5-72.
Auburn concludes its long weekend at No. 3 Oklahoma State Saturday, Feb. 3. The Tigers and the Cowgirls will go head-to-head at 10 a.m. CT in Stillwater.
#8 BAYLOR 9, #5 AUBURN 8
Equitation on the Flat
Caitlin Boyle (AU) def. Madison Day (BU), 86-0
Rachael Davis (BU) def. Caitlin Creel (AU), 76-71
Rachel Van Allen (BU)* def. Ashton Alexander (AU), 78-62
Taylor St. Jacques (AU) def. Brittney Mirkov (BU), 67-63
Gracie Thiel (BU) def. Hayley Iannotti (BU), 85-77
Equitation Over Fences
Caitlin Boyle (AU) tied Abby Jordensen (BU), 78-78
Ashton Alexander (AU) def. Gabby Conte (BU), 83-75
Taylor St. Jacques (AU)* def. Madison Day (BU), 84-81
Hayley Iannotti (AU) def. Shannon Hogue (BU), 86-79
Alex Ladove (AU) tied Brittney Mirkov (BU), 82-82
Horsemanship
Elizabeth Forney (BU)* def. Deanna Green (AU), 76-71
Abbi Demel (BU) def. Lauren Diaz (AU), 74-73
Kelsey Jung (AU) def. Kaylee Mellott (BU), 73.5-72
Charlotte Green (BU) def. Kara Kaufmann (AU), 74.5-68.5
Taylor Searles (AU) tied Clara Johnson (BU), 72.5-72.5
Reining
Kaylynn DeBernard (BU) def. Blair McFarlin (AU), 71-70.5
Abbi Demel (BU) def. Terri-June Granger (AU), 67.5-67
Carly Salter (BU) def. Ali Fratessa (AU), 71-70
Betsy Brown (AU)* def. Georgia Smith (BU), 71.5-67.5
Alexa Rivard (AU) def. Charlotte Green (BU), 65.5-64
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