MARION, Ind. -- The No. 8-ranked Indiana Wesleyan University women?s basketball team lost 59-51 to No. 3 University of Saint Francis (Ind.) on Saturday afternoon in Luckey Arena.

It was the sixth consecutive game between Indiana Wesleyan and Saint Francis with both teams ranked in the NAIA Division II top-10. The Wildcats had won the previous three meetings.

The first nine minutes of the game featured five ties and three lead changes as the teams looked for an early advantage. A field goal by the Cougars? Toni Burney with 10:58 remaining in the half gave Saint Francis a 12-10 advantage. The Cougars did not surrender the lead throughout the rest of the half.

Although Indiana Wesleyan trailed the final 11 minutes of the half, the Wildcats stayed close and entered intermission down 25-19.

IWU (18-3, 4-3 MCC) scored the first basket in the second half, cutting the USF advantage to four points. But Saint Francis quickly took control of the game with a 14-5 run to capture a 39-26 lead with 11:45 to play.

Saint Francis (19-2, 7-1 MCC) looked to have the game in hand with under five minutes to play as the Cougars held a 50-38 lead.

But Indiana Wesleyan stormed back in the closing minutes via a 12-3 spurt which closed the gap to 53-50 with 58 seconds left to play. The Wildcat defense seemed to have stopped the Cougars with 25 seconds left, but an offensive rebound for Saint Francis forced Indiana Wesleyan to foul.

Saint Francis secured the victory with six made free throws in the final 18 seconds of the game to earn the 59-51 decision.

Indiana Wesleyan was led by freshman guard Kayla Thompson?s game-high 20 points. She also added eight rebounds and five assists. Senior center Lisa Thompson also had a big game with 18 points and six rebounds.

Julie Seiss led Saint Francis with 18 points and seven rebounds.

The Wildcats return to action at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, January 23, as Indiana Wesleyan hosts Grant County rival Taylor (Ind.) University in Luckey Arena.