BU-UTM Scoresheet

THE RUNDOWN
WACO, Texas-- The 3rd-ranked Baylor equestrian team defeated Tennessee-Martin (UTM) 14-2 in the first round of the Willis Invitational on Friday at the Willis Family Equestrian Center, sweeping in equitation and horsemanship.

The round-robin field, featuring Baylor, Fresno State, New Mexico State, and UTM, means that only one team will leave the competition with a victory, whereas the remainder of Baylor's meets in 2015-16 are head-to-head competitions. With Baylor's win over UTM, the Bears move on to face New Mexico State, with the two teams already having started the second round with equitation on the flat and reining.

In Baylor's win over UTM, the Bears rolled through with relative ease, taking four points from equitation and horsemanship. The Bears also had a 3-1 win in both fences and reining.

Baylor finished off the contest winning the hunter seat events, 7-1, and the western events, 7-1.

No. 9 New Mexico State upset No. 5 Fresno, 9-7 in the first round, while the Aggies will conclude their meet with Baylor Saturday before the Bears move on to face the Bulldogs. UTM and FSU began two rounds of competition in equitation on the flat and reining Friday afternoon and will conclude Saturday.

HIGHLIGHTS
- Rachel Van Allen won Most Outstanding Player in equitation. Van Allen earned a score of 77 and defeated UTM's Claire Ottinger's 67.

- In fences, Savannah Jenkins' 85 defeated UTM's Nora Wilson (67) and Jenkins earned Most Outstanding Player honors.

- Kaylee Mellott's 74.5 earned Most Outstanding Player honors in horsemanship, and she defeated the Skyhawks' Gabriel Frostic (68).

- Mary Brown reining score of 70.5 earned Most Outstanding Player honors while defeating Megan Aiosa score of 68.5 from UTM.

STAT OF THE MEET
4 - Baylor won all four MOPs in each of the disciplines to defeat UT Martin.

TOP QUOTE
Coach Ellen White on the Bears' winning the first competition of the year...
"It was exciting. We did put some freshmen in. They stepped up to the plate, we had an MOP, Kaylee Mellott. Very excited to see how good they are and what they are able to do."

WHAT'S NEXT
Baylor will finish its meet with New Mexico State Saturday morning, which began following BU's win over UTM. Then, BU will face Fresno State to close out the round-robin. UTM began competing with FSU Friday in round two, and the two teams will conclude Saturday morning before the Skyhawks move on to face New Mexico State Saturday. FSU will finish its matchup with the Skyhawks before taking on Baylor in round three Saturday.

-BU-