January 28, 2026
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Dakota State (S.D.) stayed at No. 7 ranking when the fifth edition of the 2025-26 NAIA Women's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 national poll was announced by the national office Wednesday morning. The Trojans tallied 445 points to the national poll, 40 more points from the previous poll on Jan. 14.
Dakota State has put together a strong 17-3 campaign behind an explosive perimeter-driven offense and a perfect 10-0 record at home. The Trojans have topped 90 points seven times--including a 105-point outburst at Bellevue (Neb.) last November—and own wins over several ranked or receiving votes opponents thanks to their pace, volume shooting, and depth.
Senior forward
Tabor Teel anchors the attack with 15.9 points per game on 51.9 field goal percentage, while guards
Caitlin Dyer and
Cierra Watkins provide an efficient one-two punch on the perimeter, combining for 44 made threes and shooting above 49 percent from the field.
Dakota State's three-point firepower has been a defining trait, with five players hitting 10 or more threes and the team knocking down double-digit triples in eight games, including 16 against Northwestern (Iowa) and 15 against Providence (Mont.).
Defensively, the Trojans have held ten (10) opponents under 65 points and continue to force teams into low percentage looks from the field.
Dordt (Iowa) continues to hold firm at No. 1 in the fifth edition of the NAIA Women's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 Poll, maintaining its position with 561 points and 19-1 overall record. Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.) makes one of the poll's biggest moves inside the top five, climbing three spots to No. 2 after improving to 19-1 overall record and 546 points.
The Frontier Conference saw a total of six teams listed in the Top 25/RV poll, including Dakota State. Montana Tech fell to No. 13 ranking, while Rocky Mountain (Mont.) dropped five spots to No. 23 ranking. Carroll (Mont.), MSU-Northern, and Providence are listed in the receiving votes (RV) section.
DSU, Montana Tech, and Carroll each share the Frontier Conference's lead with 12-2 record prior to this weekend's conference contests.
The sixth edition of the NAIA Women's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 national poll is set to be released on Feb. 11.
Dakota State closes the month of January as they visit Valley City State (N.D.) Friday in Wahpeton, N.D., and Mayville State (N.D.) Saturday in Mayville, N.D. Both games are set for 5 p.m.
DSU returns home next weekend versus Rocky Mountain in the NAIA's Top 25 battle next Friday (White-Out) and Carroll next Saturday (Law Enforcement Appreciation Night).
Below is the complete list of the 2025-26 NAIA Women's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 national poll No. 5 edition:
| RANK |
LAST TIME |
INSTITUTION [FIRST-PLACE VOTES] |
RECORDS |
POINTS |
| 1 |
1 |
Dordt (Iowa) [15] |
19-1 |
561 |
| 2 |
5 |
Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.) [4] |
19-1 |
546 |
| 3 |
2 |
Bethel (Tenn.) [1] |
19-2 |
533 |
| 4 |
3 |
Campbellsville (Ky.) |
17-3 |
488 |
| 5 |
4 |
Marian (Ind.) |
18-2 |
472 |
| 6 |
6 |
Saint Francis (Ind.) |
19-1 |
466 |
| 7 |
7 |
Dakota State (S.D.) |
17-3 |
445 |
| 8 |
8 |
Rio Grande (Ohio) |
19-1 |
437 |
| 9 |
9 |
Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) |
17-4 |
403 |
| 10 |
10 |
Concordia (Neb.) |
16-5 |
346 |
| 11 |
11 |
MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) |
15-3 |
343 |
| 12 |
13 |
Lewis-Clark State (Idaho) |
16-4 |
325 |
| 13 |
12 |
Montana Tech |
16-2 |
303 |
| 14 |
19 |
William Carey (Miss.) |
18-1 |
269 |
| 15 |
14 |
Cumberlands (Ky.) |
17-3 |
259 |
| 15 |
17 |
Eastern Oregon |
18-3 |
259 |
| 17 |
22 |
Evangel (Mo.) |
16-1 |
209 |
| 18 |
21 |
Spring Arbor (Mich.) |
17-3 |
196 |
| 19 |
16 |
Briar Cliff (Iowa) |
16-5 |
158 |
| 20 |
23 |
Friends (Kan.) |
17-3 |
151 |
| 21 |
15 |
St. Francis (Ill.) |
19-2 |
139 |
| 22 |
20 |
Corban (Ore.) |
16-4 |
138 |
| 23 |
18 |
Rocky Mountain (Mont.) |
13-7 |
113 |
| 24 |
RV |
Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) |
15-4 |
100 |
| 25 |
24 |
Indiana Tech |
16-4 |
92 |
Dropped from the Top 25: Southeastern (Fla.)
Receiving Votes: Carroll (Mont.) 85, Langston (Okla.) 81, Southeastern (Fla.) 81, Loyola (La.) 66, Hastings (Neb.) 59, Huntington (Ind.) 57, Columbia (Mo.) 49, Tennessee Southern 35, Mid-America Christian (Okla.) 23, Montana State-Northern 23, LSU Shreveport (La.) 17, Taylor (Ind.) 15, Science and Arts (Okla.) 11, Georgetown (Ky.) 9, Southern Oregon 7, Oregon Tech 6. Hope International (Calif.) 6, College of Idaho 6, Faulkner (Ala.) 5, Providence (Mont.) 4, Cumberland (Tenn.) 3, Indiana Wesleyan 2
