SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- A suffocating defensive effort led the Indiana Wesleyan University women's basketball team to a convincing 57-36 win over Indiana University-South Bend on Tuesday night in South Bend, Indiana.

The Wildcats did not allow their opponent to reach 40 points for the second consecutive contest.

IU-South Bend was never able to gain momentum on the offensive end of the floor. The Indiana Wesleyan defense limited the Titans to 35-percent shooting (14 of 40) while forcing 27 IU-South Bend turnovers.

Indiana Wesleyan freshman guard Rachel Steinbarger led all scorers on the night with 12 points. Sophomore forward Elaine Hessel was the only other Wildcat in double figures with 10. IWU shot 55-percent (23 of 42) from the floor, including 69-percent (16 of 23) in the second half.

No. 8-ranked IWU improves to 3-2 this season while IU-South Bend falls to 1-4.

Indiana Wesleyan returns to the court this weekend as the Wildcats take part in the MCC/WHAC Challenge in Livonia, Michigan.