MADISON, S.D. -- The Montana Tech women's basketball team's turnaround season is over.

The Orediggers, picked last in the Frontier Conference prior to the 2024-25 season, dropped an 81-63 decision at No. 8-ranked Dakota State Friday in the first round of the NAIA national tournament.

Hadley Humphreys led Tech (18-12) with 19 points, while Brooklynn Hankwitz scored 11 for the Orediggers.

The Orediggers got out to a fast start, beginning the game with a 10-3 run. Dakota State eliminated the early deficit, though, outscoring Tech by a 15-7 margin to take a narrow lead after the first period.

Tech kept its momentum in the second half, rallying for a 35-34 advantage by the halftime break. Halle Haber led the Orediggers at the break, 35-34.

The teams traded blows in the third, but DSU rallied to take a seven-point lead late in the period. A pair of Hankwitz baskets cut the lead to three, but the Trojans carried a five-point lead into the fourth.

Dakota State broke the game open in the fourth, shooting 7-for-11 from 3-point territory in the final stanza to put the game away. The Trojans won the last quarter, 27-14.

Montana Tech played to an 18-12 record in 2024-25 and reached the program's first NAIA national tournament since 2010-11.

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