December 11, 2025

This Week's Preview
MADISON, S.D. (Dec. 11, 2025)—The Dakota State University Trojan women's basketball team (10-1 overall record, 5-0 Frontier Conference record, ranked No. 4 in the 2025-26 NAIA Women's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 Poll) continues their busy Frontier Conference schedule as they close out their 2025 calendar year with a pair of games in Montana.

Dakota State begins their six-game road stretch in the Frontier Conference, opening their stretch Friday evening at Montana State University-Northern (7-2 overall record, 4-1 Frontier, receiving votes – RV- in the national poll).  The game takes place at Armory Gymnasium (300 13^th Street W) in Havre, Mont.    

The Trojans then travel to Great Falls, Mont., on Saturday evening for another conference match-up versus Providence (Mont.) (7-2 overall record, 3-2 Frontier, receiving votes in the national poll).  The contest is being held at McLaughlin Center (1301 20^th Street South).

Both games tip off at 6 p.m. (Central Time)/5 p.m. (Mountain Time).

Up Next: Dakota State returns to action as they begin the New Year 2026 as they head back to the state of Montana.  The Trojans visit a pair of NAIA's nationally ranked teams on the first weekend of January, traveling to No. 16 ranked Carroll (Mont.) in Helena on Jan. 2 and No. 15 ranked Rocky Mountain (Mont.) in Billings on Jan. 3.

Trojans close season-high six-game home stand undefeated
Dakota State closed their season-high six-game home stand undefeated at DSU Fieldhouse after going 3-0 record last week, including a victory over NAIA's Top 25 ranked team.  The Trojans also extended their winning streak to seven games.

DSU led 38-27 at halftime in their final non-conference contest of the season against rival No. 14 ranked Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) on Dec. 2.  The Trojans held on to defeat the Tigers by the score of 74-62 to retain their Battle of Blues traveling cup.  DSU closed their non-conference schedule with a 5-1 record, despite falling short to NAIA's No. 1 ranked and two-time NAIA defending national champion Dordt (Iowa) 86-82 on Nov. 11 at Sanford Sports Complex in Sioux Falls, S.D.

Dakota State returned to Frontier Conference action on Dec. 5, rolling past Mayville State (N.D.) 92-51, highlighted by a 33-13 third quarter outburst.  The Trojans held on to defeat Valley City State (N.D.) 70-59 on Dec. 6 to remain undefeated in the Frontier Conference play.

DSU averaged 84.5 points per game during their six-game home stand.  The Trojans shot 42.3 percent from the field (175-of-414 field goals), and 46.8 rebounds and 20.2 assists per game.  Dakota State limited their opponents to 60.2 points per game and 33.8 percent from the field (132-of-391 field goals) during the home stand.

Dakota State posted their best start at 10-1 overall record since the 1983-84 squad, where they finished their season with an astounding 20-3 overall record.

DSU sweeps first meeting with FC's Providence (Mont.) and MSU-Northern
Dakota State met with Providence (Mont.) and MSU-Northern last month in their first Frontier Conference meeting at DSU Fieldhouse.  They will meet three weeks later this weekend in Montana.

The Trojans rolled past the Argos in the first Frontier Conference meeting on Nov. 21, thanks to their 53-26 halftime advantage.  Dakota State cruised to a 98-61 victory over Providence.

DSU then pulled away past MSU-Northern on the next day on Nov. 22 at DSU Fieldhouse.  Dakota State outscored the Skylights 25-12 in the final quarter to earn a 79-61 victory.  The Trojans led as many as 19 points late in the game.

The Frontier Conference second half of the schedule won't start until mid-January when the Trojans host Bellevue (Neb.) on Jan. 23.  Dakota State plays their conference foes for the second time after Jan. 23, flipping their home-and-away contests on the first half of the conference schedule besides Providence (Mont.) and MSU-Northern.

Dakota State in the Frontier Conference ranks
According to the NAIA-PrestoStats as of Thursday, Dakota State leads the Frontier Conference in scoring with an average of 86.5 points per game.  The Trojans are 12^th in the NAIA in total scoring offense.    

DSU also leads the league in field goal percentage of 45.5 percent (351-of-772 field goals), 3-point field goals made with 115 3-pointers and free-throws made with 134 free-throws. 

Defensively, the Trojans are second in the Frontier Conference in holding their opponent to 34.2 percent from the field (246-of-720 field goals) and 3-point field goal percentage of 27.6 percent (48-of-174 3-point field goals).  DSU also ranks second in the league with 40.2 rebounds per game.

Tabor Teel leads the league with 10.6 rebounds per game for the Trojans.  In addition, she leads the Frontier Conference with 22 blocks and 50 assists.  She is also second in the conference with 57.4 percent field goal shooting (70-of-122 field goals) and fourth in scoring with 15.9 points per game.

Cierra Watkins leads the team and Frontier Conference with 25 steals.  She also ranks fourth in the league with 56.2 percent from the field (50-of-89 field goals).  Caitlin Dyer ranks sixth in Frontier Conference with 50 percent field goal percentage (53-of-106 field goals).

Teel earns third Frontier Conference Women's Basketball weekly honors
Senior forward Tabor Teel earned her third Erck Hotels/Frontier Conference Women's Basketball Defensive Player-of-the-Week on Dec. 8.

She averaged 9.0 defensive rebounds, 2.3 blocks, and 0.3 steals per game as the Trojans went 3-0 record at home including a victory over No. 14 ranked Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) and 2-0 record in the Frontier Conference play.  The Trojans closed their season-high six-game home stand undefeated, including 4-0 home record during league play.

Teel scored nine points, grabbed 10 total rebounds (8 defensive), dished out seven assists, and registered four blocks in DSU's 74-62 victory over rival DWU on Dec. 2.  She followed up with seven points 10 rebounds (9 defensive), six assists, and a block in Trojans' 92-51 win over Mayville State (N.D.).

She closed the week with a game-high 27 points on her 10-of-16 field goals and collected 15 rebounds (10 defensive), four assists, two blocks, and a steal in DSU's 70-59 win over Valley City State (N.D.).

2025-26 DSU Trojan Women's Basketball Team Leaders

• Points/Points Per Game: Tabor Teel – 175 points (15.9 points per game)
• Field Goal Percentage: Tabor Teel – 57.4 percent (70-of-122 field goals)
• 3-point Field Goal Percentage: Hamtyn Heinz – 40.7 percent (22-of-54 3-point field goals)
• Free-Throw Percentage: Caitlin Dyer – 76.9 percent (20-of-26 free-throws)
• Rebounds: Tabor Teel – 117 rebounds (10.6 rebounds per game)
• Assists/Assists Per Game: Tabor Teel - 50 assists (4.5 assists per game)
• Steals/Steals Per Game: Cierra Watkins - 25 steals (2.3 steals per game)
• Blocked Shots: Tabor Teel - 22 blocks (2.0 blocks per game)