January 17, 2026
MADISON, S.D. – NAIA's nationally ranked No. 7 Dakota State (S.D.) jumped out to a dominant start and never looked back, rolling past Montana Western 81–62 in the Frontier Conference women's basketball action Saturday evening at the DSU Fieldhouse. The Trojans remained undefeated at home with a 9-0 record and extended their winning streak to four games.
Prior to the game,
Tabor Teel was recognized for her 1,000-point milestone as well as the 2024-25 DSU's Outstanding Female Athlete.
Dakota State raised their overall record to 16-3 and 11-2 record in the Frontier Conference. Montana Western fell to 7-10 overall record and 5-8 record in the league. The Trojans earned their first win in the series meeting, evening their all-time series at 1-1 record after they first met in Glendale, Ariz., during the 2021-22 season.
How it happened
DSU set the tone immediately, racing to a 9-0 opening lead, thanks to two straight game-opening layups by
Caitlin Dyer and a 3-pointer from
Hamtyn Heinz.
Bria Wasmund capped the scoring up with a layup to give the Trojans a 9-0 lead with seven minutes and four seconds on the clock in the first period and never trailed.
Dakota State ended their first period with a 28–12 lead while shooting over 70 percent from the field (10-of-14 field goals, including 5-of-8 from the 3-point line).
The Trojans carried a 47–25 lead into halftime after outscoring the Bulldogs 19–13 in the second quarter. DSU shot 60 percent from the field in the first twenty minutes (18-of-30 field goals and 7-of-15 from the 3-point line). UMW was held to 33.3 percent field goal shooting (9-of-27 field goals).
DSU held Montana Western scoreless for more than four-and-half minutes to start the third quarter, sparking a monstrous 14-0 outburst. Wasmund drained a 3-pointer to post the biggest lead of the game at 61-25 with 5:28 to go in the third.
Dakota State extended the margin to 68–38 heading into the final period. UWM outscored DSU 24-13 in the final quarter as the Trojans secured the victory.
Inside the box score
Dakota State finished the game shooting 49.1 percent from the field (28-of-57 field goals) and knocked down 11 three-pointers. The Trojans also held advantages in points in the paint (34–28), fast-break points (17–10), and bench scoring (37–26).
Montana Western shot 23-of-63 from the field (36.6 percent) and 4-of-20 from the 3-point arc.
DSU held a 38-36 rebounding edge over UMW. The Trojans produced 21 assists compared to the Bulldogs 18 assists.
Dakota State Statistical Leaders
Montana Western Statistical Leaders
- Isabella Lund: 18 points, 4 rebounds, 7 assists
- Keke Davis: 10 points
- Bailee Sayler: 9 points, 3 assists
- Sammi Love, Ava Bellach: 5 points each
Team Statistics
| Category |
Montana Western |
Dakota State |
| FG |
23-63 (36.5%) |
28-57 (49.1%) |
| 3PT |
4-20 (20.0%) |
11-29 (37.9%) |
| FT |
12-15 (80.0%) |
14-25 (56.0%) |
| Rebounds |
36 |
38 |
| Assists |
18 |
21 |
| Turnovers |
16 |
16 |
| Bench Points |
26 |
37 |
Up Next
Dakota State concludes their 3-game Frontier Conference home stand Friday versus their traveling partner Bellevue (Neb.). The Coaches vs. Cancer game, helping raise cancer awareness, is set with the women's game at 5 p.m. at DSU Fieldhouse.
