December 4, 2025
This Week's Preview
MADISON, S.D. (Dec. 4, 2025)—The Dakota State University Trojan women's basketball team (8-1 overall record, 3-0 Frontier Conference record, ranked No. 5 in the 2025-26 NAIA Women's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 Poll) returns to their busy Frontier Conference schedule as they conclude their season-long home stand this weekend at DSU Fieldhouse (1302 N. Washington Ave.).
The Trojans host Mayville State (N.D.) (1-6 overall record, 0-3 Frontier Conference) Friday evening in the DSU Faculty/Staff Appreciation Night. Ugly Sweater will be the theme for the basketball game. On Saturday, Dakota State hosts Valley City State (N.D.) (5-2 overall record, 2-1 Frontier Conference record) as part of K-12 Educators/Students Night. Jersey Night will be the theme for the final season-high six-game home stand.
Both games tip off at 5 p.m.
Up Next: Dakota State closes out their 2025 calendar next weekend as they kick off their six-game Frontier Conference road stretch. The Trojans travel to Havre, Mont., next Friday against (RV) MSU-Northern, and next Saturday at (RV) Providence (Mont.). The games are set for 6 p.m. (Central Time)/5 p.m. (Mountain Time) on both nights.
Trojans close out non-conference schedule with a pair of wins over GPAC teams
Dakota State kicked off their season-high six-game home stand with a pair of non-conference contests against members of the Great Plains Athletic Conference at DSU Fieldhouse.
The Trojans began their home stand by exploding for 16 made 3-pointers and dominated on the glass, powering to a 94-67 victory over Northwestern (Iowa) on Nov. 25. It was DSU's third win in the last four meetings with the Red Raiders.
Dakota State returned to action after Thanksgiving break on Dec. 2, hosting rival Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) in the Battle of the Blues. The Trojans started fast with a seven-point lead after the first quarter and never looked back for a 74-62 victory over the Tigers to earn their third straight Battle of the Blues victory.
Ironically, the last two meetings between DSU and DWU ended up with identical scores of 74-62 including last season's meeting at the Corn Palace.
Dakota State produced their best start since the 1983-84 squad, where they finished with a 20-3 overall record.
Dakota State's home cooking
Dakota State is 5-0 record this season at home this season (4-0 record at DSU Fieldhouse and 1-0 record at Madison High School). The Trojans racked an impressive 80-11 home record since the 2019-20 season (.879 winning percentage).
DSU is averaging 84.2 points per game this season at home. The Trojans shot 146-of-356 from the field, 59-of-162 from the 3-point line and made 70 free-throws this season on their home court.
Dakota State limited their opponents to 58.2 points per game on DSU's home court this season. The Trojans also held their opponents to 33.7 percent from the field (109-of-323 field goals) and 19-of-73 from the 3-point line.
DSU have nine home games remaining on their 2025-26 basketball schedule, including Ag Ball contest versus Montana Tech on Jan. 16. The Trojans close out their home schedule on Feb. 20 versus Dickinson State (N.D.) and Bismarck State (N.D.) on Feb. 21.
Dakota State in the Frontier Conference ranks
According to the NAIA-PrestoStats as of Tuesday, Dakota State leads the Frontier Conference in scoring with an average of 87.7 points per game. The Trojans are second in the league in field goal percentage of 46.0 percent (292-of-635 field goals).
DSU leads the Frontier Conference in 3-point field goals made with 93 3-point field goals and assists per game with 18.6 assists average per game. Dakota State ranks second in the conference with 44.8 rebounds per game.
Madala Hanson leads the league with 3-point field goals with 72.7 percent (8-of-11 3-point field goals).
Tabor Teel is second in the conference with 10.2 rebounds per game. She also ranks fourth in the conference with 15.7 points per game and fifth in field goal percentage of 56.3 percent.
Cierra Watkins ranks third in the Frontier Conference with 57.1 field goal percentage for the Trojans. She is also second in the league with 2.4 steals and 2.1 blocks per game.
Dakota State is the lone undefeated team in league action for the Frontier Conference with a 3-0 record. Six teams – No. 25 ranked Montana Tech, (RV) MSU-Northern, Valley City State (N.D.), No. 15 Rocky Mountain (Mont.), No. 16 Carroll (Mont.), Montana Western – are tied for 2-1 conference record. (RV) Providence (Mont.), Dickinson State (N.D.) and Bismarck State (N.D.) are tied for 1-2 league record. Bellevue (Neb.) and Mayville State (N.D.) are seeking their first conference win of the season (0-3 record).
A look ahead to DSU's six-game road stretch in Frontier Conference
Dakota State prepares for their six-game Frontier Conference road stretch next weekend, with four straight contests being held in the state of Montana.
The Trojans close out their 2025 year with a pair of games at (RV) MSU-Northern on Dec. 12 and at (RV) Providence (Mont.) on Dec. 13.
DSU takes their Christmas break from Dec. 14 through Jan. 1 and returns to action on Jan. 2. Dakota State heads back to Montana, visiting Carroll (Mont.) on Jan. 2 and Rocky Mountain (Mont.) on Jan. 3.
The Trojans close out their six-game road trip on Jan. 9 at Bismarck State (N.D.) and at Dickinson State (N.D.) on Jan. 10.
Dakota State returns home Jan. 16 versus Montana Tech in the annual Ag Ball game and versus Montana Western on Jan. 17. DSU also stays home on Friday, Jan. 23 versus Bellevue (Neb.) in the Coaches vs. Cancer contest.
2025-26 DSU Trojan Women's Basketball Team Leaders
- Points/Points Per Game: Tabor Teel - 141 points (15.7 points per game)
- Field Goal Percentage: Cierra Watkins – 57.1 percent (44-of-77 field goals)
- 3-point Field Goal Percentage: Madala Hanson – 72.7 percent (8-of-11 3-point field goals)
- Free-Throw Percentage: Caitlin Dyer – 77.3 percent (17-of-22 free-throws)
- Rebounds: Tabor Teel – 92 rebounds (10.2 rebounds per game)
- Assists/Assists Per Game: Tabor Teel - 40 assists (4.4 assists per game)
- Steals/Steals Per Game: Cierra Watkins - 22 steals (2.4 steals per game)
- Blocked Shots: Tabor Teel - 19 blocks (2.1 blocks per game)
