Freshman sets record in loss at Delaware State

Saturday, November 15

Dover, Del.

8:00 AM

South Dakota State University

Delaware State

11/15/2014 7:49:00 PM | Equestrian

By: SDSU Sports Info

DOVER, Del. – The South Dakota State equestrian team lost in a tiebreaker at Delaware State on Saturday, but freshman Mariah Wright made history with her fourth reining MOP of the season, which sets a new SDSU record.

The Jackrabbits and Hornets tied in points at 9-9, but the hosts win the tiebreaker by a 1,605-1,398 margin to secure the victory, and send the Jacks to the midseason break with a 4-5 record. DSU's first win of the season gives them a 1-2 mark on the season.

“I'm really happy for Mariah breaking the record, she rode well this fall, but we win or lose as a team, and I know she'd trade any record for a team win,” head coach Megan Rossiter said. “This isn't how we wanted to end the first half of the season, but we'll learn from it and come back ready to compete in January.”

A true freshman from Wooster, Ohio, Wright earned the record-breaking MOP with a score of 74.5 to boost her record to 6-1-1. SDSU also got reining points from Danielle Baker, who won her third ride in a row, and Raivenne Scott, both of who scored a 74. Baker moves to 3-4-1 on the season, while Scott improves to 4-3.

Wright broke a four-way tie with three MOP in a season, done by Laura Dunlavy twice (2012-13, 2013-14), Jana Basler (2012-13) and Angela Gebhart (2010-11).

SDSU scored its other two western points in horsemanship, with Danielle Dickerson and Elizabeth Niewojna scoring for the Jacks. Dickerson's 73 moves her to 3-4 on the season, while Niewojna's 73.5 gives her a 3-5 mark at the break.

Marielle Golden earned points in both of her hunt seat rides, carding an 81 over fences to capture her first MOP of the season and an 87 on the flat. She posted a 3-5 mark over fences in the fall and a 5-1 mark on the flat, with one MOP in each.

Emily Kerr won her first collegiate point on the flat with a 76 to move to 1-3 on the season, while Jessica Andronowitz scored the other point over fences with a score of 69 to end the fall with a 5-3 record.

The fall season in the books, SDSU returns to action on Jan. 31, 2015, when the Jacks host Alabama at the DeHaan Center.