MARION, Ind. -- Another stingy performance by the Indiana Wesleyan University women's basketball team on the defensive end of the floor led to a 52-39 victory over Goshen (Ind.) College in the Mid-Central College Conference opener for both teams on Tuesday night in Luckey Arena.

Indiana Wesleyan (5-3, 1-0 MCC) limited Goshen to 21.3-percent (10 of 47) shooting on the night and held the Maple Leafs to just seven first half points.

The Wildcats never trailed throughout the contest. Indiana Wesleyan held a 7-5 advantage with 13:48 remaining in the opening half before the Wildcat defense took control of the game. IWU used a relentless defensive effort to keep Goshen off the scoreboard for the next 11:35. By then, Indiana Wesleyan built a 12 point lead (19-7) and was never threatened the rest of the night.

Indiana Wesleyan led 22-7 at intermission.

The long scoring drought for Goshen was the beginning of a 27-5 Indiana Wesleyan stretch that lasted into the second half as IWU took a commanding 34-10 lead. Indiana Wesleyan built their largest lead of the night at 26 points with the score 42-16 halfway through the second half.

Goshen (2-7, 0-1 MCC) was able to cut into the lead late from the foul line. The Maple Leafs hit on 14-of-16 free throws in the final 11 minutes of action.

IWU sophomore forward Elaine Hessel was the lone Wildcat in double digit scoring with 16 points. She was 6-of-9 from the floor and pulled down a team best seven rebounds. Senior guard Andrea Fichter added nine points and four blocked shots while sophomore guard Kayla Thompson contributed five assists and four steals.

Goshen freshman guard Stormy Holder led all scorers with 19 points.

Indiana Wesleyan returns to action at 7 p.m. on Saturday, November 29 as the Wildcats battle Indiana Tech in Fort Wayne, Indiana.