MARION, Ind. -- Both teams shot well over 50-percent from the floor as Taylor (Ind.) University defeated the Indiana Wesleyan University women?s basketball team by an 81-78 margin on Wednesday night in Luckey Arena.

Indiana Wesleyan finished the night shooting 57.7-percent (30 of 52) from the field and 50.0-percent (9 of 18) from deep, including an 8-for-10 performance in the first half. Taylor was 56.6-percent (30 of 53) overall and 64.3-percent (9 of 14) from beyond the arc.

Each team had four players in double figures. IWU junior guard Andrea Fichter led all scorers with a career-high 22 points while Taylor was led by forward Alison Heesch?s 20 points and seven rebounds.

Taylor led 8-6 with 16 minutes and 24 seconds remaining in the first half when Indiana Wesleyan exploded for a 23-7 run. With 8:27 to go in the half, the Wildcats led 29-15.

With IWU leading 32-22, Taylor used an 8-0 spurt to cut the deficit to two points at 32-30 with just under five minutes left before half. The Trojans cut the lead to one point at 39-38, but never captured the lead before intermission as Indiana Wesleyan carried a 42-38 advantage into the locker rooms.

The Trojans (10-11, 4-4 MCC) raced out of the second half with six unanswered points to earn a 44-42 lead. In less than four minutes into the half, Taylor had captured a seven point lead at 55-48.

Indiana Wesleyan fought right back and used a 9-2 run to bring the game even at 57-57 with 13 minutes to play.

The teams were tied 65-65 with 7:54 left but Taylor would regain the lead and push their advantage to 72-67 with 5:16 to play.

A Brooke Amstutz field goal narrowed the Taylor lead to 77-74 with 1:17 on the clock, but a Bethany Ballard basket put Taylor up 79-74 with 57 seconds to play.

Indiana Wesleyan (18-4, 4-4 MCC) responded with a field goal to make it 79-76. Taylor made one of two free throws to give the Trojans an 80-76 lead and 22 seconds remaining.

IWU earned a layup while Taylor once again was one of two from the charity stripe. TU led 81-78 with five seconds to go. Wildcat freshman guard Kayla Thompson broke free from her defender for an open look and a chance to tie the game, but her shot fell off target as Taylor escaped with the victory.

Lisa Thompson contributed 18 points and seven rebounds for the Wildcats while Amstutz had 15 and Kayla Thompson added 14 points and eight assists.

Taylor?s Paige Rudolph scored 17 points while Ballard added 16 and Jo Switzer chipped in with 10.

Indiana Wesleyan will return to action at 1 p.m. on Saturday, January 26, as the Wildcats travel to play Goshen (Ind.) College.