VERMILLION, S.D.—The competition gets considerably stronger this week as the University of South Dakota women's basketball team takes its 5-1 record and three-game winning streak to warm, sunny California this weekend, Dec. 3-5.
 
South Dakota will be competing in the second annual Hayward Invitational Tournament, meeting host Cal-State Hayward (0-4) at 10 p.m. (Vermillion time) Friday, Dec. 3. Other first round games pit Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo (1-2) vs. Humboldt State (3-2) at 5:45 p.m. and Fresno State (3-1), a Division I competitor, vs. British Columbia (4-2) at 8 p.m.
 
The Coyotes won all three games on a swing through Colorado last weekend. Following a 79-68 mid-week loss at home to powerful Central Missouri State, USD pounded Metropolitan State 110-32. The club established new school records with 110 points and a 78-point winning margin. The Coyotes then defeated Colorado School of Mines 79-60 Saturday evening. Looking a little sluggest Sunday afternoon, USD squandered an 11-point halftime lead, but held on to down Northern Colorado 85-82. Sophomore sensation Ann Pancoast netted 25 against the Bears, while junior Karrie Wallen added 22. Mitzie Frericks, a 6-0 freshman, had her finest game yet, totaling nine points and a game-high 12 boards.
 
"It's really tough to play an afternoon game, having just played the night before," professes USD coach Chad Lavin. "It's especially difficult on the road. But we held our composure. Even though we didn't shoot well, we didn't panic. And it's always good to win on the road.
 
"I look forward to our freshmen to begin to contribute more. The quicker they come along, the better we'll be. We need their depth. Mitzie Frericks had a very good trip. She's shooting well – she had 18 points against Metro and nine each of the next two games. She kept us in the game in the first half against the School of Mines.
 
"Ann Pancoast and Katie Dailey continue to do an outstanding job. And then Katie got into foul trouble early in the Mines game, moved to the point and did a commendable job – especially since she hasn't practiced that position all year. And Karrie Wallen began to assert herself last weekend. She's shooting with confidence now."
 
Lavin is expected to go with his regular starting lineup this weekend: sophomores Dailey (5.7 points, 9 assists per game) and Pancoast (17.8 ppg) at the guards and Robin Schamber (6.8 ppg) at one forward; Wallen (14.5 ppg), a junior at the other forward; and 6-3 senior Pam Olerich (10.0 ppg) at center.
 
Following this weekend's tournament games, USD will return home to face the College of Saint Mary at 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 9. USD will then host Westmar, Dec. 11 at 5:45 p.m. in the first half of a doubleheader (the USD men will meet Northwestern at 8 p.m.). That night (Dec. 11) has been designated as High School Night, with all high school players and their coaches admitted to the game free of charge.