The Cowgirls (1-3, 0-3 Big 12) are led by 16th-year head coach Larry Sanchez, eighth year assistant coach Kayla Hrencher and second year assistant coach Stacy Sanderson. The Cowgirls are coming off a tough 12-7 loss to No. 2 Kansas State in Manhattan last weekend. The Cowgirls, coming off a three-meet conference road trip, are 1-0 at Animal Science Arena this season and are looking to bounce back and pick up their second-straight win in the series with the Gamecocks.
About the Gamecocks
The South Carolina Gamecocks (3-2, 2-1 SEC) are led by 17th-year head coach Boo Major, associate head coach Ruth Sorrel and assistant coach Hillary Dobbs. The Gamecocks have won three-straight and are coming off a 13-6 win over Fresno State in Fresno, Calif., on Nov. 7. The Gamecocks are 2-1 on the road this season with the wins against Fresno State and Auburn and the lone road loss coming at the hands of Kansas State in the first meet of the season. This weekend will feature a matchup between reigning conference champions, as the Gamecocks took the Southeastern Conference championship last season.
In the NCEA Rankings
The Oklahoma State equestrian team remained at No. 8 in the latest team rankings released by National Collegiate Equestrian Association on Tuesday.
The Cowgirls (1-3, 0-3 Big 12) hold steady in the rankings this week after an off-weekend on the schedule. Big 12 conference foe Baylor remains firm at No. 1 in the poll, while TCU (No. 2), South Carolina (No. 3), Kansas State (No. 4) and Georgia (No. 5) round out the top five.
Last Time Out
The 8th-ranked Oklahoma State equestrian team wrapped up a three-meet road trip on Saturday, Nov. 8, falling, 12-7, to No. 2 Kansas State in Manhattan, Kan.
The Cowgirls (1-3, 0-3 Big 12) and Wildcats opened the day in the equitation over fences event. Senior Allison Joyce and freshman Carly Barrick each picked up a victory to lead the way for the Pokes. Joyce scored a season-high 86 on her ride to top Henley Adkins’ score of 84. Barrick knocked off Halle Kutsche, 81-79 to give the Cowgirls their second point. It wouldn’t be enough, however, as the Wildcats took equitation over fences, 3-2.
In equitation, Barrick and Christina Martinelli of Kansas State tied with scores of 79. After initially taking the victory, sophomore Jorden Davis was defeated, 83-74, when Kansas State’s Henley Adkins was granted a re-ride that allowed the Wildcat to escape with the point. Kansas State defeated Oklahoma State, 4-0-1, in equitation.
The Cowgirls were impressive in horsemanship, taking the event from the Wildcats, 4-1, to remain undefeated on the season in the discipline. October Big 12 Horsemanship Rider of the Month Paris Nottingham earned her second Most Outstanding Performer (MOP) honors of the season after defeating Sydney Anson, 73.5-71.5. Katy Krshka knocked off Kirsten Chamberland, 74.5-71.5, before Miranda Reed edged Kelsey Sousa, 74-73.5. Senior Lindsey McMullen moved to 4-0 in horsemanship this season after downing Dani Kemper, 72-70.5.
Krshka was the only Cowgirl able to secure a point in reining, defeating Kara Guy, 68-66. The win was the senior’s fourth of the year in reining in as many meets. The Wildcats took the event, 4-1, to take the meet.
An Oklahoma State Win Would...
• Move the Cowgirls to 2-0 in Stillwater this season.
• Be the Cowgirls' 13th-straight win at Animal Science Arena.
• Even the Cowgirls' record in the series with the Gamecocks at six wins each.
• Bump the Cowgirls' record in regular season meets against South Carolina to 4-3.
• Be the Cowgirls' second-straight win in the series against the Gamecocks, tying the longest winning streak by the Cowgirls in the series.
The Series
The Cowgirls currently trail in the series with the Gamecocks, 6-5, and will look to even the series this Friday. The Cowgirls are undefeated in home meets against the Gamecocks, boasting a perfect 2-0 mark against South Carolina at Animal Science Arena. The Cowgirls took the last meeting between the two teams in 2013 in raw scores. The Cowgirls' longest streak in the series is two, while the Gamecocks took three-straight from 2009-2010.
Riders of the Month
Oklahoma State equestrian athletes Katie Jones and Paris Nottingham garnered Big 12 Rider of the Month awards for the month of October, the league office announced earlier this month.
Freshman Katie Jones was named Big 12 Rider of the Month in equitation on the flat. Jones competed once in the month of October and defeated Baylor’s Sam Schaefer, 75-65, in the Cowgirls’ meet with the then-fourth-ranked Bears in Waco, Texas, on Oct. 18.
Junior Paris Nottingham was named Co-Big 12 Rider of the Month in horsemanship. Nottingham went 1-0 in the event in October, while also picking up Most Outstanding Performer (MOP) honors after knocking off Baylor’s Mary Brown, 69-68.
Home, Sweet Home
This Friday will mark the beginning of a four-meet homestand in Stillwater for the Cowgirls. Along with South Carolina, the homestand includes a conference matchup with each of the three other Big 12 teams. The Cowgirls won't go on the road again until March 8, 2015, when they take on SMU in Dallas, Texas.
Cowgirls at Home
The Cowgirls are currently riding an impressive 12-meet winning streak in Stillwater. The last time the Cowgirls lost within the confines of Animal Science Arena was Nov. 3, 2012, in a 10-9 loss to TCU.
Oklahoma State currently holds the second-longest active home winning streak in the nation with 12 wins. Kansas State currently holds the longest home winning streak in the nation with 15-straight home win streak.
Lucky Number Three
The Cowgirls' win over Baylor in last season's Big 12 Championship brought the team its third-consecutive Big 12 Championship. With the win, the squad became the first team in Big 12 history to win three-straight equestrian titles. The championship was the program's fourth overall, with the first coming in 2009.
