By Matt Gade

605 Sports

RAPID CITY — After spending four years at South Dakota State University, St. Thomas More’s Haleigh Timmer had a decision to make after graduating with a degree in mathematics.

Maybe the toughest decision she’s had to make since deciding where she was going to play college basketball.

To come back for her final year at SDSU or look elsewhere at another school.

In the end, Timmer decided Oklahoma State was the school that offered everything she was looking for.

“I really liked the programs,” Timmer said of both the athletic and academic programs. “I'm pursuing a different degree than what was offered at South Dakota State, and so I really liked the MBA program here at Oklahoma State. It's one of the best business schools in the country. And so I think it'll really set me up for my career well.

“Then for basketball, I was just looking for a fast style of play, and I think I found that in Oklahoma State, just with the speed and aggression they play with. And then I also really like how Coach (Jaycie) Hoyt values her faith and creates a culture with faith at the center.”

Timmer played three of her four years at SDSU, missing her junior year and redshirting due to a knee injury suffered in the offseason.

While playing for the Jackrabbits, Timmer earned multiple Summit League honors. In 2023, Timmer was named to the Summit League second team, was an honorable mention in 2025, named to the All-Tournament team both in ‘23 and ‘25, and was the Tournament MVP in ‘23. 

Timmer was also recognized for her academic achievements, being named to the CSC All-America Second team in 2025 and Academic All-Summit League in 2025. She was also CSC Academic All-District in ‘23 and ‘25 in addition to Summit League Academic Honor Roll in 2022 and 2023. 

On the court, Timmer finished her career with 1,155 points, 377 rebounds and 139 assists over the course of the 2021-22, 2022-23 and 2024-25 seasons.

South Dakota State University's Haleigh Timmer is introduecd at the start of the Summit League tournament championship game on Sunday, March 3 at the Denny Sanford Premier Center in Sioux Falls. (Matt Gade/605 Sports)

With all her success on the court, which included a pair of NCAA tournament berths in 2023 and ‘25, Timmer said the relationships she built with her teammates are her favorite memories.

“I think there's mixed emotions. Just with leaving is obviously sad, and I built a life in Brookings, and I think there's obviously a reality there of leaving something good behind,” Timmer said. “So I think there was kind of some sadness with that, and just with, you know, people in the community, but ultimately, I feel really supported in my decision. And the fans at SDSU are amazing, and I think they just want you to succeed outside of basketball after basketball, and I really felt that support when I left. 

“I had a great experience there, just from the side of having great teammates and building lifelong relationships. A lot of the girls that I played with are still some of my very best friends, and so just the experiences we had together, I wouldn't trade any of that for the world. They love me as a person more than a basketball player. And so I think they understand why I left and support me in that as well. … So I think just reflecting on my time at SDSU, just the success that we had, and ultimately, just the community there, I wouldn't trade it for the world, and I'm super grateful that I spent four years there.”

During the NCAA tournament last March, as the 10 seed, the Jackrabbits drew seventh-seeded Oklahoma State in the first round. The Jackrabbits defeated the Cowgirls 74-68 in the first round before the Jackrabbits would face eventual National Champion UConn, losing 91-57.

Playing against the UConn Huskies, Timmer said, was a full-circle moment for the Rapid City native who grew up watching the UConn women’s basketball team win 10 of their 12 National Championships between 2000 to 2016.

“It was really cool, honestly, to play against them. I always watched UConn growing up as a little girl, and looked up to all the players on their team,” Timmer said. “So I think it was just a full circle moment of playing UConn at home, at their home, and going up against literally the best in the country. So I think it was just a cool opportunity to play in front of their fans. And you kind of just realize, like all those dreams I had as a little girl playing in the tournament, and it was just a cool matchup.”

Heading into the 2025-26 season, Timmer and the Cowgirls are ranked 22nd in both the AP and coaches polls in the preseason polls.

Timmer said she’s excited to see where the season takes her and likes the direction coach Hoyt and the Cowgirls are going.

“I think just her drive of trying to cultivate that successful program is really exciting for me, because I love to win and I want to play for a coach that also loves to win,” Timmer said of Hoyt. “I think just with her intention behind everything that we do, it is evident that she's putting us in the best possible position to have a successful year. And I also just think, with all the pieces that were added to the returners at Oklahoma State, we’re really set up for success as well. I think our transfer class was, I think, number seven in the country, and so just really excited to see what this team can do and just kind of build on the successful season that they had last year.”

Timmer said she knows that as a graduate transfer, she will be looked upon for her experience and knowledge, given the success she had while at SDSU.

Now, as a part of the Big 12, Timmer said the style of play is very different from the Summit League. Timmer said coach Aaron Johnston ran a much more structured and disciplined offense that was very successful for the Jackrabbits.

But in the Big 12, Timmer said it’s a faster pace getting shots up earlier in the shot clock.

“I think both styles have a place in basketball and are successful, but definitely some different styles between the two,” she said.

Oklahoma State University's Haleigh Timmer passes the ball during a drill during practice earlier this year. (Photo courtesy Brayden Hartmann/OSU Athletics)

Now that Timmer is a part of the Cowgirl program in Stillwater, Oklahoma, Timmer said it’s the furthest she’s ever been from home.

No more weekend trips back home like might have been possible when she was still in Brookings.

Despite the distance from Rapid City, Timmer said she still anticipates her family’s support in attending games and watching her play. It’ll just take a bit more planning rather than day drives.

“My parents are great. They've always supported me over the course of my life and just in basketball,” Timmer said. “From high school to taking me to all these camps, and they drove me, you know, eight hours every weekend to Minnesota for AAU. And so I think nothing's really changed with, like, the level of support they've had for me. 

“They're actually gonna come to Stillwater, I think, in a couple of weekends for the first games. So, it'll just be fun to have them here and, like, just have that support as the true constant over my career. I think especially in our non-conference, we have a lot of home games, so I think they're just gonna be here for longer stretches, rather than going home in between all of the games.”

As the Cowgirls open their season on Monday, Nov. 3, hosting New Orleans, Timmer said she’s focused on just enjoying her final year of college basketball.

As of now, Timmer said she’s undecided if she would want to play professionally after this year or not, but is definitely open to the possibility if it arrives.

“I’m really trying to stay in the present, right now,” Timmer said. “Obviously, it'll be hard to step away from basketball, so just kind of see what my opportunities are after the season, as far as overseas or just playing professionally. We'll see what happens after the season. But really, I’m just focused on this year.”