MARION, Ind. -- The Indiana Wesleyan University women's basketball team could do no wrong in the first half of the 74-53 Mid-Central College Conference victory over Grace (Ind.) College.

The Wildcats shot 65.4-percent (17 of 26) in the opening frame, including 8-of-10 (80.0-percent) from 3-point range, to open up a 45-20 halftime lead. IWU gained a lead of 29 points (45-16) in the half to cruise to their third consecutive victory.

Grace (7-14, 2-5 MCC) grabbed their first and only lead of the contest at 15:44 as junior forward Demetria Eley scored in the paint. But Indiana Wesleyan scored 28 seconds later from sophomore guard Kayla Thompson's 3-point bucket and Indiana Wesleyan never trailed again. Thompson ended the afternoon with 14 points and five assists.

The Thompson 3-pointer ignited a massive 29-4 run which nearly lasted 12 minutes. As the dust cleared, the Wildcats held a 34-10 advantage with 3:59 before halftime.

No. 22-ranked Indiana Wesleyan collected their largest lead of the half at 45-16 with 37 seconds on the clock before Grace recorded the final four points in the half for a 45-20 IWU advantage.

The Wildcats pushed the lead to over 30 points for the first time early in the second half as freshman guard Rachel Steinbarger scored in the paint at 13:49 for a 59-28 lead. Sophomore forward Elaine Hessel sank a pair of free throws on the Wildcats' next possession to give IWU their largest lead of the day at 61-28.

Hessel recorded her fifth double-double of the season with game-highs of 23 points and 10 rebounds. She was perfect on the day going 8-for-8 from the field and 7-of-7 from the free throw line.

Indiana Wesleyan senior guard Andrea Fichter added 11 points and was 3-of-4 from beyond the arc. Senior forward Jena Schafer chipped in with five points and a game-high six assists.

IWU shot 57.4-percent (27 of 47) from the field while holding the Lancers to just 35.3-percent (18 of 51). The Wildcats earned 19 assists as a team and kept the Lancers to just six.

Indiana Wesleyan (15-6, 4-3 MCC) was able to do a lot of damage from inside the paint and outside the arc. IWU outscored Grace 34-16 in the post and held a 24-3 advantage from 3-point range.

The Wildcats remain at Luckey Arena for their next contest as Indiana Wesleyan hosts Grant County rival Taylor (Ind.) University at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, January 21.