SPEARFISH, S.D. – The Black Hills State University women's basketball program and head coach
Rachel Erickson announced the addition of four players to their 2025 signing class on Wednesday afternoon, including three transfers, Addie Branscum (Loveland, Colo./Regis), Taylin Serlen (Westminster, Colo./Regis), and Brinlee McRae (Sandy, Utah/Augustana), and freshman Jozie Dana (Spearfish, S.D.). The quartet will join the five freshmen signees from November, which included Sydney Deem (Thornton, Colo.), Alli Glasscock (Miles City, Mont.), Kenleigh Graham (Dillon, Mont.), Maddie Geiver (Dell Rapids, S.D.), and Lilly Meulemans (Appleton, Wis.).
Addie Branscum // Guard // 6' 1" // Loveland, Colorado // Mountain View H.S. // Regis
Branscum joins the Yellow Jackets as a sophomore, arriving after spending one year at RMAC foe Regis. For the Rangers she appeared in 27 games while making seven starts, averaging 25.3 minutes, 6.0 points and 5.3 rebounds per game while shooting the ball 44.8 percent from the field. She scored in double figures five times during the season, including posting a career-high of 13 points twice, knocking down 4-of-6 from the field and 2-of-3 from 3-point range against Colorado Mesa, and going 5-of-6 from the field and 2-of-2 from deep against Adams State. A threat from beyond the arc, she connected on two or more 3-pointers in eight games, twice making a career-best of three against Point Loma and New Mexico Highlands. On the glass she grabbed double digit rebounds three times, recording a career-high of 13 against Colorado Christian. She also dished out a career-best five assists in the match-up with the Cougars. As a prep standout at Mountain View High School for head coach Patrick Huddleston, she was a 4-time all-conference selection and a 2-time all-state selection. Her final three seasons playing for the Mountain Lions she averaged double figures each year with more than 17.0 points and 7.0 rebounds per game each campaign. As a senior she was named first team all-conference and CHSAA Class 5A Second Team All-State while she led the team to the 2024 CHSAA Class 5A Sweet 16, averaging 17.7 points, 7.7 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.8 steals, and 1.0 block per game. Her first all-state and first team all-conference selections came as a junior in 2023 as she was named CHSAA Class 5A Honorable Mention All-State after averaging 20.0 points, 8.3 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 2.4 steals per game. As a junior she ranked sixth in Class 5A in points and was ninth with ten double-doubles. Outside of prep basketball she played for the Colorado Basketball Club. Addison is the daughter of Blain and Erica Branscum, and has one sibling, Brevan.
Coach Erickson's Thoughts: "Addie is a great addition to our team. Her versatility, ability to score at all three levels, and added length will bring extreme value on both sides of the ball. She's a great player and person who fits our system and culture, and we're excited to see the impact she'll make on and off the floor!"
Jozie Dana // Guard // 5' 7" // Spearfish, South Dakota // Spearfish H.S.
A hometown kid is staying home as Dana, a 4-year starter for Spearfish High School and head coach Dakota Johnson is set to join the Yellow Jackets next season. She helped guide the Spartans to back-to-back SDHSAA Class AA State Tournament appearances in 2024 and 2025 as the team finished seventh and sixth place respectively. She averaged double figures in both seasons, scoring 10.6 points and grabbing 3.0 rebounds per game as a junior before making a jump to 13.2 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 3.2 assists as a senior. Dana spearheaded the defense for SHS, collecting 108 steals over her final two seasons as a prep, snagging 57 in 2023-24 and 51 in 2024-25. She was recognized as All-Black Hills Conference and the Rapid City Journal's Best of the West Second Team in both 2024 and 2025. In addition to those honors, she was tabbed Honorable Mention All-SDHSAA Class AA in 2024 and was a member of the 2025 Class AA All-State Tournament Team. Outside of prep basketball she has played for the Ambush, Rapid City Gators, and SD Network travel ball programs. Jozie is the daughter of BHSU alums, Traci and Jesse Dana, and has two siblings, Kooper and Kanon.
Coach Erickson's Thoughts: "Jozie is a great add to our incoming freshmen class. She's a true system player who does all the little things. With a high basketball IQ, the ability to guard at a high level, and the versatility to contribute in a variety of ways, Jozie brings consistency and toughness to our program."
Taylin Serlen // Center/Forward // 6' 2" // Westminster, Colorado // Standley Lake H.S. // Regis
Arriving in Spearfish as a sophomore, Serlen played her freshman season at RMAC foe Regis, where she appeared in all 28 contests and made 27 starts. She averaged 23.3 minutes, 7.9 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.0 assist, and 1.0 block per game, while shooting the ball 53.1 percent from the field. She scored in double figures on ten occasions, including posting a career-high of 18 points against St. Mary's (TX) in a 7-of-9 performance from the field and adding 4-of-5 shooting at the charity stripe. She grabbed a career-high ten rebounds for her lone double-double of the season as she also added 13 points against MSU Denver. A force on the defensive side of the ball, she recorded eight multi-block games, including a career-best of four against UCCS. Prior to attending Regis, Serlen was a 4-year letterwinner and starter for head coach Virgil Luben at Standley Lake High School, averaging a double-double as a prep with 19.0 points and 10.7 rebounds per game over her career. She totaled 1,557 points for the Gators as she accumulated 61 double-doubles. As a senior in 2023-24 she was named CHSAA Class 5A First Team All-State, averaging 20.0 points, 10.3 rebounds, 3.3 steals, 2.8 assists, and 2.3 blocks per game while leading SLHS to the CHSAA Class 5A Great 8. Along with being a 4-time first team all-conference selection and the 2024 conference player of the year, she also earned CHSAA Class 5A Honorable Mention All-State as a junior in 2022-23 and was CHSAA Class 4A Honorable Mention All-State as a sophomore in 2021-22. Outside of prep basketball she played for the Mountain West Premier EYBL program. Taylin is the daughter of Gabe Serlen and Merae Hoffman, and has two siblings, Asher Serlen and Brodey Hoffman
Coach Erickson's Thoughts: "We're excited to welcome Taylin to our team this season. She brings a rare combination of size and skill. Taylin is a force inside and has great feal scoring in different ways around the rim and extended. She will be a great fit for our system and adds another dynamic layer to our roster."
Brinlee McRae // Guard // 5' 8" // Sandy, Utah // Alta H.S. // Augustana
McRae joins the Black Hills State program as a senior, after having spent last season at Augustana. For the Vikings she appeared in all 28 games while making 13 starts, averaging 19.7 minutes, 6.5 points, 2.5 rebounds, 1.4 steals, and 1.2 assists per game while shooting the ball 35.1 percent from the field and 33.0 percent from beyond the arc. She scored in double figures nine times for Augie, including pouring in a season-best 18 points against Hastings. From beyond the arc, she was able to connect on multiple 3-pointers in eight contests and knocked down a career-best of five against cross-town rival Sioux Falls. On the glass she collected four or more rebounds nine times, she dished out two or more assists seven times, and on 11 occasions secured two or more steals. Prior to arriving in Sioux Falls she played two seasons at Utah State Eastern, helping the Eagles to a 43-16 record and an appearance in the SWAC Tournament Championship in 2023-24, their first conference title game appearance in 44 years. In her two seasons at USE, McRae played in 57 games and made ten starts, averaging 15.9 minutes, 7.4 points, 4.1 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 1.1 steals while shooting the ball 42.2 percent from the field and 34.4 percent from 3-point range. She scored in double figures 16 times, including twice reaching the 20-point mark and was highlighted with a career-best 24-point performance against Colorado Northwestern Community College on February 16, 2023, as she went 11-of-17 from the field and added ten boards for a double-double. In total she reached double digit rebounds twice, each time recording a double-double, and notched a career-best of 11 boards against Salt Lake Community College on February 18, 2023. In just three seasons of high school basketball, she was able to reach the 1,000-point milestone, closing out her prep career as a 2-time all-state performer at Alta High School for head coach Izzy Gustafson. As a senior in 2021-22 she was named UHSAA Class 5A Second Team All-State and first team all-region, averaging 19.3 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 3.2 steals per game. The year prior she averaged 21.8 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 3.3 steals per game as a junior in 2020-21 to also be named UHSAA Class 5A Second Team All-State and first team all-region. Both seasons at AHS as a junior and senior she played in the UHSAA Class 5A All-Star Game. Brinlee is the daughter of Bryan and Shannon McRae and has two siblings, Brayden and Brooklyn.
Coach Erickson's Thoughts: "We're thrilled to add Brinlee to our roster. She's a fiery shooting guard who can really put the ball in the basket. Her relentless work ethic on both ends of the floor sets the tone, and her experience will bring tremendous value to our program. Brinlee's competitive edge and drive make her a perfect fit for our program."
