Bobcat Women Sign Two High School Standouts
11/13/2025 12:45:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Madison O’Connor, Baker, Mont., and Emma Dongelmans, Oakville, Ontario, Canada, make up Binford’s 21st recruiting class.
Montana State head women's basketball coach Tricia Binford announced the signings of two high school standouts that will join the Bobcats for the 2026-27 season on Thursday.
Madison O'Connor, Baker, Mont., and Emma Dongelmans, Oakville, Ontario, Canada, make up Binford's 21st recruiting class.
O'Connor, a 5-11 guard, is one of the top athletes in the state of Montana. A multi-sport athlete, she is an all-state performer in basketball, volleyball, and track.
O'Connor, a three-time all-state selection in basketball, has led the Spartans to a 68-14 overall record heading into her final season at Baker High School. At Baker, she has produced 2,100 points, 500 rebounds, and 500 assists. O'Connor guided BHS to the 2024 Montana Class B state championship and led the Spartans to second and third place finishes, as well.
"Madison is a competitor with a champion mindset," Binford said. "She is a dynamic player in the open court and possesses incredible court vision. Madison is a three-level shooter that makes everyone on the court better. She is tough, gritty and impacts the stat sheet in a variety of ways. Madison has great instincts and will impact our program on both ends of the court."
An outstanding athlete, she is a four-time all-state and all-conference performer in volleyball. In addition, O'Connor is an all-state tournament honoree and has recorded 1,260 kills and 771 digs for the Spartans, who open play at the 2025 Montana State Tournament this week in Bozeman. In track, she was the 2023 state champion in high jump.
O'Connor, who played club ball with Northwest Blazers Montana, under the direction of former MSU men's standout Mecklen Davis, is the daughter of Dirk and Sheila O'Connor. Sheila (Hutchison) was a first-team All-Big Sky selection with the Bobcats in 2004 and helped MSU to a regular season BSC title.
Dongelmans, a 6-5 forward, prepped at Kings Chirstian Collegiate and was selected to represent Ontario at Canadian Nationals at U15 and U17, capturing bronze and silver medals. A Canadian National Team watchlist standout, she was recently selected to attend the NCAA Basketball Academy in South Carolina. Dongelmans is a two-time Ontario Basketball all-star and an Ontario Cup champion. She played club ball for B1CE 2026 GUAA directed by Jason Fowler.
"Emma is a rim protector who has great hands and a beautiful shot," Binford said. "She has the ability to stretch the floor and play inside, out, and she is going to give us depth at the forward position. Emma will fit our program with her ability to be disruptive on the defensive end, while possessing the ability to run the floor and play at our pace. She is an outstanding rebounder with an elite work ethic."
Another multi-sport athlete, she has competed in hockey, lacrosse, and volleyball.
Dongelmans also comes from a strong basketball family as mother Stephanie played professionally in Switzerland and France, was a three-time All-Canadian selection and was named a USport Top 100 Women's Basketball Player of the Century in Canada. Her father Ted also played overseas in Switzerland and was also a three-time All-Canadian pick. Both parents graduated from Laurentian University and are in the schools' hall of fame.
Madison O'Connor, Baker, Mont., and Emma Dongelmans, Oakville, Ontario, Canada, make up Binford's 21st recruiting class.
O'Connor, a 5-11 guard, is one of the top athletes in the state of Montana. A multi-sport athlete, she is an all-state performer in basketball, volleyball, and track.
O'Connor, a three-time all-state selection in basketball, has led the Spartans to a 68-14 overall record heading into her final season at Baker High School. At Baker, she has produced 2,100 points, 500 rebounds, and 500 assists. O'Connor guided BHS to the 2024 Montana Class B state championship and led the Spartans to second and third place finishes, as well.
"Madison is a competitor with a champion mindset," Binford said. "She is a dynamic player in the open court and possesses incredible court vision. Madison is a three-level shooter that makes everyone on the court better. She is tough, gritty and impacts the stat sheet in a variety of ways. Madison has great instincts and will impact our program on both ends of the court."
An outstanding athlete, she is a four-time all-state and all-conference performer in volleyball. In addition, O'Connor is an all-state tournament honoree and has recorded 1,260 kills and 771 digs for the Spartans, who open play at the 2025 Montana State Tournament this week in Bozeman. In track, she was the 2023 state champion in high jump.
O'Connor, who played club ball with Northwest Blazers Montana, under the direction of former MSU men's standout Mecklen Davis, is the daughter of Dirk and Sheila O'Connor. Sheila (Hutchison) was a first-team All-Big Sky selection with the Bobcats in 2004 and helped MSU to a regular season BSC title.
Dongelmans, a 6-5 forward, prepped at Kings Chirstian Collegiate and was selected to represent Ontario at Canadian Nationals at U15 and U17, capturing bronze and silver medals. A Canadian National Team watchlist standout, she was recently selected to attend the NCAA Basketball Academy in South Carolina. Dongelmans is a two-time Ontario Basketball all-star and an Ontario Cup champion. She played club ball for B1CE 2026 GUAA directed by Jason Fowler.
"Emma is a rim protector who has great hands and a beautiful shot," Binford said. "She has the ability to stretch the floor and play inside, out, and she is going to give us depth at the forward position. Emma will fit our program with her ability to be disruptive on the defensive end, while possessing the ability to run the floor and play at our pace. She is an outstanding rebounder with an elite work ethic."
Another multi-sport athlete, she has competed in hockey, lacrosse, and volleyball.
Dongelmans also comes from a strong basketball family as mother Stephanie played professionally in Switzerland and France, was a three-time All-Canadian selection and was named a USport Top 100 Women's Basketball Player of the Century in Canada. Her father Ted also played overseas in Switzerland and was also a three-time All-Canadian pick. Both parents graduated from Laurentian University and are in the schools' hall of fame.
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