March 21, 2026

SIOUX CITY, Iowa – No. 3 seed Dakota State (S.D.) relied on their high-powered offense and a dominant interior performance to defeat No. 5 seed Georgetown (Ky.) 85-79 Saturday afternoon to win the Naismith Quadrant of the 45^th annual NAIA Women's Basketball National Tournament at Tyson Events Center.  DSU weathered a late surge by the Tigers to continue their postseason run.

The Trojans, who entered the tournament as the Frontier Conference regular-season champion and No. 7 ranking in the final NAIA poll, established a new school record 30^th win after the victory.  DSU raised their overall record to 30-5 and moved on to the NAIA national semifinals for the second time since 2023, which the previous school record wins were set with 29 wins.

Georgetown, a member of the Mid-South Conference who upset the No. 1 overall seed and conference foe's Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.) in Round of 16, ended their season at 25-9 overall record.

How it happened

The Tigers kicked off the game by making four straight baskets to open a 10-0 lead, thanks to their back-to-back 3-pointers from Kayra Freeman and Anna Long.  Daisy Gale and Freeman followed with back-to-back baskets for a 10-point lead with eight minutes, nineteen seconds on the clock in the first quarter.

Dakota State answered back on their 22-8 scoring run to close the quarter with a 22-18 lead.

The Trojans' lead continued to grow as they led as many as 15 points at 43-28 after a basket by Caitlin Dyer with 2:12 to go in the second quarter.  After the Tigers cut their deficit to eight points, Angelina Chapple drained a 3-pointer just before halftime as DSU regained their lead to 48-37.

DSU outscored Georgetown 26-19 in the second quarter, thanks to their 9-of-16 from the field (56.3 percent).

Dakota State ballooned to their biggest lead of the game at 59-40 after Dyer's basket with 5:48 remaining in the third quarter.

Leading 64-46, the Tigers went on a monstrous 17-2 scoring run in the final 3:32 of the third quarter. 

Led by a relentless perimeter attack, the Tigers cut the deficit to five points midway through the fourth quarter.

However, Dakota State's depth and late-game composure at the free-throw line—going 12-for-14 in the final five minutes—sealed the victory. Long hit a 3-pointer at the end of the quarter as Georgetown trimmed Dakota State's lead to 66-63.

The Tigers outscored the Trojans 26-18 in the third quarter.

DSU maintained their lead through the early fourth period, leading as many as five points.  Georgetown rallied to overtake the lead at 72-71 after Long's basket with 5:13 remaining.

Dakota State answered by scoring 11 straight points to regain their double-digit lead at 82-72, highlighted by Dyer's 3-pointer followed by a pair of free-throws by pair of free-throws from Cierra Watkins and a basket by Tabor Teel with 2:33 left.

The Tigers could get no closer than three points at 82-79 as the Trojans made defensive stops to go along with three free-throws, one each from Bria Wasmund, Teel, and Dyer to secure the victory.

DSU outscored GC 19-16 in the final quarter.

Individual Stats

Dakota State

• Tabor Teel: 16 points, 16 rebounds, 6 blocks, 4 assists (21^st double-double)
• Caitlin Dyer: 16 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists (5-of-7 field goals, 5-of-6 free-throws)
• Cierra Watkins: 13 points, 6 rebounds, 2 blocks
• Ella Carstensen: 11 points, 11 rebounds, 2 blocks (double-double)
• Angelina Chapple: 8 points, 3 rebounds
• Bria Wasmund, Hamtyn Heinz:  7 points each

Georgetown

• Anna Long: 21 points, 6 rebounds, 4 steals
• Daysha Reid: 17 points, 5 rebounds, 3 steals
• Daisy Gale: 15 points, 8 rebounds
• Kayra Freeman: 11 points, 6 assists

Post-Game Notes

• Dakota State shot 43.5 percent (30-of-69 field goals), 8-of-29 from the 3-point line, and 17-of-26 at the free-throw line.
• Georgetown shot 37.8 percent overall from the field (28-of-74 field goals), 12-of-28 from the 3-point line (42.9 percent), and 11-of-19 at the free-throw line.
• Dakota State outscored Georgetown 44–28 in the paint and won the rebounding battle 54–35.
• DSU outscored GC 19-7 in second chance points and 33-12 in bench points.

Up next

Dakota State prepares for the NAIA national semifinals Monday evening at 6 p.m. versus No. 1 seed Dordt (Iowa).