The Dickinson State University athletic department experienced a great weekend - until 11:49 p.m. on Sunday.

On Saturday, the school's football team climbed atop the Dakota Athletic Conference Standings with a win over Minot State. Later that night, the women's basketball team knocked off defending NAIA national champ and top-ranked Morningside.

But the mood changed on Sunday night. Three of the school's softball players were reported missing following an alarming cell phone call.

The missing women are Kyrstin Gemar, 22, Ashley Neufeld, 21, and Afton Williamson, 20. Gemar is from Grossmont, Calif.; Neufeld is from Brandon, Manitoba; and Williamson is from Lake Elsinore, Calif.

The women, who are believed to have been traveling in a white 1997 Jeep Cherokee, phoned a friend late Sunday to ask for help, but then the line went dead. The friend then called 911.

The search for the missing women has been in a 30-mile radius, based on a cell tower north of Dickinson that the last known call went through.

Stark County sheriff Clarence Tuhy confirmed that there was a mention of "water" in the call for help.

An aerial search has been conducted that has looked at Patterson Lake and other water bodies in the area.

Tuhy said the investigation has been turned over to the Dickinson Police Department because all three women were residents of the city of Dickinson.

Tuhy said the Civil Air Patrol, the North Dakota Highway Patrol, Bureau of Criminal Investigation, Stark County Emergency Management and neighboring counties have assisted in the investigation.

"We called out the planes for searching," Tuhy said. "We've come to a dead end and have turned it over to the Dickinson Police Department."

All three women have cell phones, and recent incoming phone calls have gone directly to voicemail, Tuhy said.

Tuhy has asked that the public not form its own search parties. If somebody were to spot the missing vehicle, they should report it to the Dickinson Police Department or the Stark County Sheriff's Department.

Tuhy explained the reason why the residents searching on their own is a bad idea:

"The reason is we don't know who is out there looking and where they are going and searching," Tuhy said. "We could end up looking for more people. It's not organized and everybody goes in separate directions. We're doing what we can. If we need more assistance, we will be happy and willing to ask for it.

"But they're going to go out there, and there is no way we can stop them."

The softball team finished last season at 42-5 overall and placed third at the NAIA national tournament.

Gemar, a third baseman, collected a batting average of .475 last season. She batted in 38 runs and hit 10 home runs in 38 games played.

Neufeld, an outfielder, played in 29 games last season, compiling a batting average of .314 and collecting 16 RBIs.

Williamson is a transfer from Riverside Community College in Riverside, Calif.

Dickinson State athletic director Roger Ternes said the school will have counselors available if anybody should need them.

Ternes said he met with the Dickinson State athletic staff and the student athletes involved with softball.

"We haven't had a campus-wide meeting at this point," he said. "It's a wait-and-see thing. We don't know how far to take this until we find out what's going on. We're all concerned - with good reason."

University of Mary second baseman/outfielder Jenna Button grew up with Williamson and went to high school with her.

"It's scary because there are so many different things that could have happened," said Button, a sophomore. "I want to pray and hope for the best."

Button, who said she would be willing to go to Dickinson to help search if needed, talked to Williamson on Friday. Button said Williamson and some friends were in Bismarck on Friday night for a movie.

"She's one of the happiest people," Button said. "She's always smiling. She loves playing softball, and she's a very hard worker. She always has a smile on her face, especially when she's on the field."