Baylor EQ Drops Spring Opener to No. 3 South Carolina, 10-7

Thu Jan 29 19:22:14 CST 2026

BAYLOR ATHLETICS COMMUNICATIONS – Jan. 29, 2026

Baylor EQ Drops Spring Opener to No. 3 South Carolina, 10-7
Hehr, Reid and Thron all earn MOP honors
For more information contact: Zach Babajanof-Rustrian; 813-817-2451, zach_babajanofrustr1 at baylor.edu<mailto:zach_babajanofrustr1 at baylor.edu>
Media Materials: https://baylorbea.rs/EQMedia

WACO, Texas – Baylor equestrian fell to third-ranked South Carolina, 10-7, on Thursday afternoon at the Willis Family Equestrian Center.

The Bears earned event wins in Flat and Reining but it wasn’t enough to best the Gamecocks.

Jumping Seat senior Lauren Reid earned her fourth Most Outstanding Performer in Flat this season, tying the program record for most MOPs in the event during the Maxwell era. Horsemanship senior Anna Thron won her first MOP of the season, while Reining fifth-year senior Bella Hehr earned her first career MOP.

THE RUNDOWN

Starting the meet off in Fences, Jorgensen and her opponent tied with a score of 87 for no point to be awarded. Reid earned BU’s sole point in the event, riding Vif for an 87 compared to the Gamecocks’ 85. South Carolina won the event 3-1.

In Reining, Kalena Reynolds and Isabelle Hildebrandt tied with the Gamecocks, 69.5 and 72, respectively. Hehr rode for a career-high 73 to earn her first career MOP and a point for Baylor. Sadie Peters earned a season high of 71 to add to BU’s point total. The Bears won the event 2-1.

At halftime, South Carolina led 4-3 heading into Flat and Horsemanship.

After the half, MOP Thron earned a 76.5 on Mister to win her point. The Gamecocks won all other points, claiming the event, 4-1.

Finishing in Flat, Grace O’Connell bested South Carolina with an 81 on Sherman to earn a point for BU. Morgan McCarthy earned an 87 on Teddy to upend the Gamecocks’ 86. MOP Reid scored an 88 on Cowboy to clinch the event win for the Bears. BU won the event 3-2, but South Carolina won the meet 10-7.

NOTABLES

  *   Reining earned its third event win of the season, 2-1
  *   Flat earned its second event win of the season, 3-2
  *   Jumping Seat senior Lauren Reid garnered her fourth Flat MOP of the season
  *   Jumping Seat senior Emma Covarrubias tied her career high of 85
  *   Jumping Seat junior Sofia Moskowitz made her collegiate debut with an 84 in Fences
  *   Horsemanship senior Anna Thron earned her first MOP of the season
  *   Horsemanship freshman Taylor Eller made her collegiate debut with a 71.5
  *   Reining fifth-year senior Bella Hehr earned her first career MOP
  *   Hehr garnered a career high of 73
  *   Reining junior Sadie Peters earned a season high of 71
  *
Reining sophomore Isabelle Hildebrandt made her collegiate debut with a 72

STAT OF THE MEET
3 – Three Bears earned MOPs in today’s meet (Bella Hehr, Lauren Reid and Anna Thron)

QUOTABLE
Head Coach Casie Maxwell
On today’s meet…
“Yeah, definitely not the result that we wanted, not the result that we're capable of. You gotta win three out of the four of the events. And so, you know, we've got to get rid of these mistakes. I think a lot of the effort was there, but the mistakes are still sitting there, and they're gonna separate us. And so, three MOPs, we were right there. We've got all the talent in the world, but we just got to clean up the other things between now and next Friday.”

Fifth-year Senior Bella Hehr

On her ride…
“Bear was great. He was so cool going around, and he was with me the whole time, and it was just so fun to go around and get the job done.”

On first career MOP…

“Oh my God, I'm so ecstatic. I want to thank my parents. This is so fun, to go out there and get it done, and then be able to complete it out, because that's so fun for me. It's so exciting. So, I've always been waiting for it, so it's great.”

WHAT’S NEXT

The Bears continue their home slate, hosting Oklahoma State on Friday, Feb. 6 at 11 a.m. at the Willis Family Equestrian Center.

For more information on Baylor Equestrian, follow @BaylorEQ on X, Instagram and Facebook.

 - BaylorBears.com -

__________________________________________

Zach Babajanof-Rustrian | Communications Assistant (Equestrian)

Department of Athletics | Baylor University

C: 813-817-2451

[signature_2230589939]<http://baylorbears.com/>

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