Feb. 12, 2016
WACO, Texas - No. 4 Baylor equestrian (7-3, 2-1 Big 12) returns to Waco after a three-month break from competition at home, taking on No. 6 TCU (4-4, 0-3 Big 12) on Saturday at 1 p.m. at the Willis Equestrian Center.
After three road meets, going 1-2 over that stretch, head coach Ellen White is looking forward to building on the adversity of the road trip as the team prepares for its second pass through conference play.
"We did a good job, I liked the way the girls rode," said White. "It is always nice to come back to our horses, our arena, and dominate at home again."
The Bears and Horned Frogs meet for the second time this season, after a tense fall meet at TCU went down to the wire. Though the point score ended up in a 9-9 draw, it was BU that came away with the victory in the raw scores, 1553.25-1513.75.
"TCU is a strong rivalry, we did beat them at [their] home," said White. "We are ready and not taking it lightly."
The meet will start at 1 p.m. Fans will be able to enjoy free pony rides, face painting, a bounce house, a t-shirt toss for every point Baylor scores. As with all home meets at Willis, admission is free.
Fans can keep up with Baylor's equestrian team on Twitter by following the handle @BaylorEQ, and Coach White, @BUEQCoachWhite.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Saturday, Feb. 13, 2016, 1 p.m. start
BAYLOR BEARS
2015 Record: (7-3, 2-1 Big 12)
Head Coach: Ellen White (11th season)
TCU HORNED FROGS
2015 Record: (4-4, 0-3 Big 12)
Head Coach: Haley Schoofield (3rd season)
Baylor Equestrian Preview
By Jennifer Mitchell
Baylor Bear Foundation
Baylor's fourth-ranked equestrian team will return to Big 12 action when the Bears host No. 6 TCU at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Willis Family Equestrian Center.
Coming off consecutive road losses at No. 1 Auburn and No. 3 Texas A&M, the Bears are 7-3 overall and 2-1 in the Big 12. TCU is 4-4 for the season, following a 14-6 win over Fresno State, and winless in the league at 0-3.
Baylor head coach Ellen White says it's always good to be back home after hard road meets, because it gives the riders confidence to come back and feel strong on their own horses.
"This is a good time in our season to have three home meets and finish strong before Big 12's and Nationals," White said.
The Bears haven't had a home meet since Nov. 6, when they knocked off sixth-ranked and defending national champion South Carolina, 16-3, handing the Gamecocks their worst loss in program history.
Baylor leads the all-time series with TCU, 10-6, and won on the raw-score tiebreaker when the two teams battled to a 9-9 draw in their Oct. 23 meeting in Fort Worth.
"TCU is wanting to redeem themselves, and they are going to be giving all they have against us," White said.
To pick up the home victory against the Horned Frogs, White knows her riders will have to "stay focused, confident and in sync with the 1,500-pound dance partner you have drawn for the day."
This is the first of three straight home meets for the Bears, who will host fifth-ranked Oklahoma State next Saturday, Feb. 20, and then No. 10 Kansas State on March 4.
Earlier this week, junior Alicia Gasser and freshman Abbi Demel were named NCEA riders of the month for January. Honored for equitation on the flat and horsemanship, respectively, Gasser and Demel swept their events in Baylor's road loss at Auburn.
Fans can keep up with the Baylor-TCU matchup on Twitter by following the official team account @BaylorEQ or White's handle, @BUEQCoachWhite.
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