BIG SPRING, Texas - The SPC Lady Texan rodeo team finished a disappointing eighth place at the Howard College rodeo held April 15-17 in Big Spring, but maintain a 178 point lead over third place Western Texas College as they enter the Tarleton State rodeo that begins today.

Brittany Bell scored 35 points for SPC in the first round of the goat tying competition when she finished in 10.7 seconds, tying for fourth quickest of the round. Bell struggled in the final, however, when she secured the goat in 22.5 seconds and tied for eighth overall but missed out on additional points.

Jeremy Buhler and his Texas Tech teammate Jay Manning just missed scoring points for their teams when they finished with the seventh fastest time in the first round of team roping. The duo failed to record a time in the final.

Former Texan Craig Wisehart and former Lady Texan Cassie Vierstra dominated the competition their respective events of bareback riding and goat tying. Wisehart recorded scores of 78 and 74, winning the long round, tying for first in the short round and winning the average to total 175 points. Vierstra won both the long and short rounds as well as the average to earn 180 points.

If the Lady Texans can maintain second place after the Tarleton State rodeo they will qualify a team for the College National Final Rodeo to be held June 13-19 in Casper, Wyoming.

Brittany Bell appears to be a lock to make that team as she currently leads the region in goat tying with 745 points, 245 points better than second place.

Carley Richardson currently stands third in breakaway roping and eighth in barrel racing, while Haley Nelson is fourth overall racing the barrels.

On the men's side, Ben Ramey is second in steer wrestling with 410 points.