January 31, 2026
MAYVILLE, N.D. – No. 7 ranked Dakota State (S.D.) turned defensive pressure into a second-half offensive explosion Saturday afternoon, forcing Mayville State (N.D.) 33 turnovers and rolling to an 83–55 road victory in The Frontier Conference women's basketball action at Lewy Lee Fieldhouse. The victory gave the Trojans their seventh straight victory and kept the Comets winless in 16 Frontier Conference contests.
Dakota State, who outscored MSU 46-24 in the final twenty minutes of the game, raised their overall record to 19-3. The Trojans, coupled with Carroll's (Mont.) home setback to Montana Western on the same night, earned sole possession for first place in the Frontier Conference with 14-2 record. Mayville State dropped their 18
th straight game, falling to 1-20 overall record and 0-16 Frontier Conference record.
DSU completed their Frontier Conference season sweep of Mayville State, as well as earning their fifth straight victory in the series meeting.
How it happened
The Trojans led by just one after the opening quarter (18–17) but steadily pulled away by winning each of the final three periods, including a decisive 24–14 third quarter that broke the game open. Dakota State turned turnovers into 39 points, dominated second-chance opportunities (15–0), and held Mayville State to just four points in the paint.
Dakota State jumped out quickly behind
Caitlin Dyer's early scoring and took an 18–17 edge after one. Despite trailing in the second quarter, the Trojans closed the second quarter with an 8-0 outburst in the final 2:11 to extend their lead to 37–31 at halftime, highlighted by
Ella Carstensen's nine second-quarter points.
A dominant third quarter saw the Trojans stretch the margin to double digits behind, outscoring the Comets 24-14 to balloon their lead to 61-45.
The Trojans never looked back, outscoring Mayville State 22–10 in the fourth quarter to secure the 28-point win.
Ella Carstensen and
Tabor Teel paced a balanced Dakota State attack, while the Trojans' bench accounted for 32 points in the win. Dakota State shot 49.2 percent from the field (31-of-63 field goals) and forced Mayville State into 33 miscues, committing just 16 turnovers themselves.
Dakota State Individual Leaders
Mayville State Leaders
- Hannah Stark: 17 points
- Misti Zempel: 9 points
- Whitney Welk: 9 points
Team Statistics
| Category |
Dakota State |
Mayville State |
| Field Goals |
31-63 (49.2%) |
21-38 (55.3%) |
| 3-Point FG |
8-29 (27.6%) |
7-13 (53.8%) |
| Free Throws |
13-24 (54.2%) |
6-16 (37.5%) |
| Rebounds |
29 |
27 |
| Assists |
17 |
11 |
| Turnovers |
16 |
33 |
| Points off TOs |
39 |
12 |
| Second-Chance Pts |
15 |
0 |
| Bench Points |
32 |
28 |
Up Next
Dakota State returns home next weekend as they continue their Frontier Conference action. The Trojans host No. 23 ranked Rocky Mountain (Mont.) in the battle of NAIA's Top 25 nationally ranked teams Friday evening. Tip-off is set for 5 p.m. in the 'White-Out' game.
