[3] Dakota State (S.D.) heads to NAIA semifinals, holds off [5] Georgetown (Ky.) 85-79 to win Naismith quadrant

| By: Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director

Trojans hit school record 30th win, advance to NAIA national semifinals for the 2nd time since 2023

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 45th 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 30th 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 (21st 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 the winner of No. 1 seed Dordt (Iowa) or No. 2 seed Saint Francis (Ind.).
 

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