February 6, 2026

MADISON, S.D. – No. 7 Dakota State (S.D.) maintained their Frontier Conference women's basketball lead after their 69-62 victory over No. 23 ranked Rocky Mountain (Mont.) Friday evening at DSU Fieldhouse.  The Trojans hit their 20^th win of the season for the sixth consecutive season, ballooning their winning streak to eight games.

The Trojans improved to 20-3 overall and 15-2 in the Frontier Conference, while Rocky Mountain dropped to 15-8 overall and 12-5 in league play.  Both teams split their regular season meetings, with the Battlin' Bears winning at home by one possession, 55-52 on Jan. 3.  DSU earned their first victory over RMC in series meeting history.

How it happened

Dakota State never trailed and controlled the game, recording only two ties.  The Trojans led 15-11 after the first quarter before breaking things open in the second period.

DSU outscored the Battlin' Bears 24-17 in the second quarter, building its largest lead of the game at 15 points.  Leading 24-16, the Trojans went on an 8-0 outburst ignited by 3-pointer from Caitlin Dyer and Tabor Teel followed by Cierra Watkins' layup for a 32-17 lead with 4:34 to go in the second.

Dakota State carried a 39-28 halftime lead into the locker room.  The Trojans shot 38.9 percent from the field (14-of-36), including 8-of-17 from the 3-point line in the first half.  RMC was 11-of-24 from the field and 4-of-10 from the 3-point line but committed 11 turnovers.

Rocky Mountain chipped away in the third quarter behind Isabelle Heggem and Paige Wasson, trimming the deficit to five at 48-43 late in the period (Wasson hit a 3-pointer with 46 seconds to go in the third quarter to cut DSU's lead to five points).

Dakota State answered late, taking a 50-43 advantage into the fourth quarter after Teel's layup.

The Battlin' Bears pulled within one possession midway through the fourth (52-51 with 6:42 remaining) after a Cavanaugh three-pointer.

However, the Trojans responded with a key stretch:

• Madala Hanson hit a fast-break three to push the lead back to four (55-51 lead with 6 minutes left)
• Ella Carstensen's two free-throws with 5:46 remaining for DSU's 57-51 lead
• Mackenzi Simmons converted a turnover into a bucket for Trojans 59-51 lead with 5:18 left
• Watkins added a paint finish (61-53 DSU lead with 3:40 remaining)
• Wasmund drilled a clutch three with 1:25 left to extend the margin to nine (67-58)

Rocky Mountain made a late push, but DSU closed the door to secure the seven-point win.

Individual and Team Statistics

Dakota State (69)

Tabor Teel
17 points, career-high 18 rebounds (tied for seventh most single-game rebounds), 4 assists (double-double)

Bria Wasmund
14 points

Cierra Watkins
13 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists

Caitlin Dyer
8 points

Dakota State finished:

• 24-70 field goals (34.3 percent)
• 12-35 3-point field goals (34.3 percent)
• 9-10 free throws (90 percent)
• 46 rebounds
• 17 bench points

Rocky Mountain (62)

Isabelle Heggem
12 points, 15 rebounds (double-double)

Paige Wasson
16 points

Brenna Linse
12 points, 6 rebounds

Angelina Cavanaugh
12 points

Rocky Mountain shot:

• 25-60 field goals (41.7 percent)
• 10-27 3-point field goals (37 percent)
• 2-6 free throws (33.3 percent)
• 35 rebounds

Team Comparison

Category	RMC	DSU
Points off Turnovers	9	15
Points in Paint	24	24
Second Chance	8	9
Fast Break	2	12
Bench Points	3	17

Up Next
Dakota State hosts (RV) Carroll (Mont.) Saturday evening for the Frontier Conference's supremacy.  Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. at DSU Fieldhouse.  Hawaiian is the theme for the basketball game.  Law Enforcement Appreciation Night will also be held.