UTM equestrian boasts several successful individual efforts in final two matchups of season-opening road swing

The UTM equestrian squad racked up 13 individual victories and a pair of most outstanding player (MOP) efforts against South Dakota State and No. 5 SMU as the Skyhawks completed their first road trip of the 2020-21 season today.
           
UTM began its competition against South Dakota State on Friday before wrapping up today with a setback by the narrowest of margins. Trailing by a 5-3 margin heading into this morning, the Skyhawks nearly pulled out the comeback before settling for an 8-8 draw. However, the Jackrabbits edged out UTM on a raw points tiebreaker (1,227.5 to 1,224).
           
Against South Dakota State, Julia Gilman came away with the Skyhawks’ lone point in fences as her score of 82 bested her competitor by four points. Abbie Hopkins ran into some tough luck as her team-high tally of 86 points was only topped by an MOP 87-point performance by her opponent. Mahalia Alascio and Grace Rogers also represented UTM with 74 points apiece.
           
Tess Baumann captured MOP status in horsemanship, notching those honors after a 75-point effort. Lucy Eier’s 68 points were also good enough for a Skyhawk victory to help UTM split the four team points awarded in the event. Devon Woods (72.5) and Bailey Newlin (69.5) rounded out the Skyhawk lineup.
           
UTM got back in the competition thanks to a sweep in flat this morning. Hopkins’ career-high 94 points secured MOP accolades for the reigning All-American out of Seekonk, Mass. Gilman (88 points), Quinn Reed (86) and Alascio (79) helped the Skyhawks go 4-for-4 in points against South Dakota State.
           
In reining, Hannah McDonald’s 69.5-point performance led to a head-to-head victory for UTM. However, that was the only win the Skyhawks could manage in that event, despite solid efforts from Noel Meadows (71.5), Baumann (70.5) and Erin Bledsoe (64.5) – who were all defeated by one point or less.
           
UTM put up a fight against No. 5 SMU today but fell by a 15-5 margin. The Skyhawks took three out of five points in fences and tacked on one win in both horsemanship and reining.
           
Hopkins was responsible for a team-high 84 points in fences on her way to the head-to-head win. Reed and Gilman additionally generated victories with scores of 82 and 81, respectively. Alascio (82) and Rogers (40) completed the UT Martin lineup.
           
In horsemanship, Woods earned a victory thanks to a 73-point performance. Paige Benson equaled Woods with a team-best score of 73 points and was followed by Newlin (72.5), Eier (71.5) and Baumann (70.5).
           
The Skyhawks generated solid scores in flat but could not defeat a SMU squad who combined for an average score of 92.6. UTM’s lineup in that event consisted of Haley Kane (90), Gilman (88), Hopkins (85), Reed (83) and Alascio (66).
           
McDonald put the finishing touches on a perfect opening week as the senior out of Ridgefield, Wash. recorded her third reining victory after a score of 71.5. Maggie Malone came away with a team-best 72 points while Baumann (70.5), Meadows (70) and Bledsoe (62.5) rounded out the Skyhawk scoring.
           
UTM will be off for nearly two weeks before its next competition as the Skyhawks will take on Minnesota-Crookston on Feb. 12 for their home opener.

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