FORT WAYNE, Ind. -- A 12-0 run to open the game was all the Indiana Wesleyan University women's basketball team needed in a 63-47 victory over Indiana Tech on Saturday night in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

During the opening spurt, Indiana Wesleyan sophomore guard Kayla Thompson led the Wildcats with eight points, including a pair of 3-pointers. She ended the night with 16 points and four steals.

The Wildcats nearly ended the opening half as well as they began it. With IWU up 26-16 and over two minutes left before the break, the Wildcats tallied 10 of the final 12 points in the half to break the game wide open at 36-18.

Indiana Tech (3-5) fared no better in the second half as No. 8-ranked Indiana Wesleyan held a double digit lead throughout. The Warriors were able to cut the deficit to a second half low of 11 points with under a minute to play.

But Indiana Wesleyan connected on 7-of-8 free throws in the final 31 seconds to push the lead to 16 points as the buzzer sounded.

Indiana Wesleyan (6-3) was led by sophomore Elaine Hessel's double-double of 17 points and 12 boards. Senior guard Andrea Fichter contributed 16 points and seven rebounds

Indiana Tech was held to just 36.2-percent (17 of 47) shooting on the evening and 16.7-percent (3 of 18) from deep. Indiana Wesleyan also forced 27 Indiana Tech turnovers while holding a slim 37-to-34 advantage on the boards.

The Wildcats were able to gain the victory in large part to free throw shooting. IWU found its way to the charity stripe 42 times while hitting on 27 shots (64.3-percent).

Indiana Wesleyan returns to the hardwood at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, December 3 as the Wildcats host Mid-Central College Conference opponent Bethel (Ind.) College in Luckey Arena.