Davis Earns Two MOP’s As Clutch Performances Down The Stretch Lead Skyhawks To ECAC Championship Finals

Friday, March 28

Martin, Tenn.

10 a.m.

UT Martin

South Dakota State

Davis Earns Two MOP’s As Clutch Performances Down The Stretch Lead Skyhawks To ECAC Championship Finals

3/28/2025 7:08:00 PM | Equestrian

Results

MARTIN, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee at Martin equestrian squad trailed 9-8 this afternoon against South Dakota State but stormed back to claim each of the last three points for a riveting 11-9 triumph in the Eastern College Athletic Conference semifinals.

With the win, the No. 1 seed Skyhawks advance to tomorrow's tournament finals at 10 a.m. against No. 2 seed UC Davis, who defeated No. 3 seed Delaware State by a 14-5 margin in today's other semifinal.

UT Martin (7-6) held a slim 8-7 advantage through three events but found itself trailing after the scrappy Jackrabbits won the first two points in reining. Logan Putvinski (70 points), Elise Mason (68.25) and Kate Davis (71) then finished the meet strong for the Skyhawks with three straight victories to send UT Martin to its fifth straight appearance in the ECAC Championship finals.

Davis' final win capped off a day where the senior from Williamston, Mich. garnered MOP accolades in both Western discipline events (horsemanship and reining). She became the fourth Skyhawk to nab two MOP's in the same meet this season, joining Elizabeth Becker (fences/flat on Oct. 18 against UC Davis), Lexi Bailey (horsemanship/reining on Oct. 18 against UC Davis) and Gabby Adams (fences/flat on Feb. 21 against Delaware State).

Kate Mills accounted for UT Martin's third MOP of the day, achieving those honors after an 84-point effort in fences.

Overall, the Skyhawks won three points in fences, flat and reining while adding two victories in horsemanship today.

In horsemanship, Davis' 73.75-point effort led the way for UT Martin as she extended her winning streak in that event to three as part of her first MOP in 2024-25. Mia McAfoos tacked on her team-best ninth victory of the season courtesy of a 74-point performance. Ava Newsom (69.50 points), Bailey (69) and Lillian Laney (67.75) also represented the Skyhawks in the event.

UT Martin evened up the score at 5-all after fences as Mills' first MOP (and seventh triumph) of her sophomore campaign guided the Skyhawks. Adams' 80 points and Bridget Vieau's 76 points were their third and second wins of the season, respectively. Emerson Maier (77 points) and Becker (75) were additional members of the scoring lineup.

Adams secured her team-best ninth flat win of the season with 72 points while Becker's 72 points were good enough for her sixth victory in 2024-25. Payton Lussen posted 69 points for her fourth win of the season while Vieau (74.5) and Rileigh Weiss (66.5) battled as part of the UT Martin lineup.

Putvinski's team-best 11^th victory in reining spurred the momentum for the Skyhawks. Mason followed with her 10^th win of the season, making the score 10-9 in favor of UT Martin before Davis slammed the door. Her first reining MOP of the season avoided a 10-all tie and punched the Skyhawks' ticket to tomorrow's finals.

Admission for tomorrow's ECAC Championship finals is free at the Ned McWherter Agricultural Complex.