No. 4 Georgia Falls Short in 11-8 Loss to No. 3 South Carolina

Friday, November 13

Columbia, SC

1:00 PM

University of Georgia

South Carolina

No. 4 Georgia Falls Short in 11-8 Loss to No. 3 South Carolina

November 13, 2020 | Equestrian

Final Results USC

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The fourth-ranked University of Georgia equestrian team closed out the fall dropping an 11-8 decision to No. 3 University of South Carolina, Friday afternoon in Columbia, S.C.

Junior Sara Lewis collected the Horsemanship Most Outstanding Performance (MOP) honor for her event-high score of 75.5. This is Lewis' second honor of the season and third overall.

"I thought the girls road really well," Georgia assistant coach Anna Becker said. "They rose to the occasion. It was exciting to see them all come together, work and help one another. We had some really great rides, and I thought our riders did a really good job. We pushed things more than we have. I am really proud of them, and they definitely stepped up. It is a good way to go into the spring."

"I thought overall the meet went well," Georgia assistant coach Sara Parr said. "Our inexperience on the road shined through a little bit, and there definitely are things we need to work through. We had great ride. We are excited to start back competition in the spring."

Georgia (1-2) won the Flat event, 3-2, putting the Bulldogs at an advantage early in the meet. The Gamecocks tallied the first two points before senior Hayley Mariano notched the next point for Georgia. Redshirt senior Isabelle Heckler secured another point for Georgia riding to a score of 81 over her opponent's 80. Redshirt senior Ali Tritschler earned the final point of the event ousting her opponent 84-77.

The Bulldogs and Gamecocks (1-2) traded points before USC won the event, 3-2. Junior Courtney Blumer won the first point with a score of 63. South Carolina's Emilia Reutimann responded with a narrow defeat, 70-69.5, over junior Addy Cullum. Senior Jordan Carpenter defeated her opponent, 70.5-68.5. Sloane Vogt's 70 handed USC another point followed by fellow-Gamecock Emma Lane securing the event win beating sophomore Caitlin Lyons, 71-69.

Georgia and USC were tied at halftime, 5-5.

The Gamecocks gained momentum in Fences, winning three points. USC's Trinity Hammerschmidt earned the first point of the event. After the Gamecocks claimed the next two points, Georgia tallied the final two. Mairano defeated USC's Alice Kass, 80-75. After a re-ride, sophomore Rachel McMullen beat her opponent by a 13-point margin, 83-20, to win another point for Georgia.

USC extended their lead edging Georgia, 3-1, in Horsemanship. Senior Lexie Lane and Gamecock Michaela Schrim both rode to score of 72 resulting in a push. Lewis' MOP-ride of 75.5 scored the lone point for Georgia.

The Bulldogs conclude fall competition with an overall 1-2 record. A 2021 spring schedule will be released at a later date.

HOW TO FOLLOW GEORGIA EQUESTRIAN: For complete information on Georgia equestrian, follow the team on its social media channels via @UGAEquestrian on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.