November 12, 2026

MADISON, S.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) remained in the national rankings as the first regular-season of the 2026-27 Gared NAIA Women's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 Poll was announced Wednesday by the national office. The Trojans are ranked No. 24 after opening the season at No. 3 in the preseason poll.

Dakota State, which holds a 1-5 overall record despite a setback to current No. 2 Dordt (Iowa) on Nov. 10, has faced one of the toughest non-conference schedules in the country. The Trojans have played three consecutive opponents ranked in the NAIA's Top 10, including No. 2 Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.), No. 10 Concordia (Neb.), and No. 7 Dordt (Iowa) in the preseason rankings.

DSU closed its non-conference schedule Tuesday evening with a 98-64 setback to Dordt at the Sanford Sports Complex in Sioux Falls, S.D. The Defenders climbed five spots to No. 2 in the latest national rankings after opening their season undefeated.

Five Frontier Conference teams are represented in the latest NAIA Women's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 Poll, led by Montana Tech at No. 6. Rocky Mountain (Mont.) remained at No. 12, followed by Carroll (Mont.) at No. 14, Dakota State at No. 24 and Montana State-Northern at No. 25.

Montana Tech and Carroll each climbed 10 spots from the preseason rankings, while Montana State-Northern entered the Top 25 for the first time this season.

Dakota State turns its attention to Frontier Conference action, where the Trojans will compete in a 22-game conference schedule featuring 11 home games and 11 road contests.  DSU plays their season's home opener next Saturday (Nov. 21) as they begin their three-game home stand versus Bellevue (Neb.) at 3 p.m.