GOSHEN, Ind. -- Senior forward Elaine Hessel blocked a field goal attempt by Erica Yost as the final horn sounded and the Indiana Wesleyan University women's basketball team survived a ferocious Goshen (Ind.) College comeback attempt to win 59-57 in Goshen, Indiana.

No. 14-ranked Indiana Wesleyan led by as many as 19 points (39-20) in the early stages of the second half and by 10 points with less than three minutes to play. Goshen finished the contest on a 9-1 run but fell two points shy as Hessel blocked the potential game-tying shot to end the contest.

The Wildcats remain perfect at 7-0 on the season and start Mid-Central College Conference action with a win. Goshen falls to 3-5 and 0-1 in the MCC.

Indiana Wesleyan never trailed in the game as IWU raced out to an 18-5 lead. The lead eventually grew to 15 points when Indiana Wesleyan led 25-10 with 4:00 minutes before halftime. Goshen quickly cut the deficit to 25-18 with eight unanswered points before Indiana Wesleyan ended the half with the final four points for a 29-18 advantage.

In the first three minutes of the second half, the Wildcats scored 10 of the first 12 points to earn their largest lead of the night at 39-20.

Over the next 10 minutes the Maple Leafs slowly cut into the large deficit until it was single digits at 48-39 and 6:29 to play. With 4:09 on the clock GC had the lead cut to six at 52-46.

IWU sophomore guard Rachel Steinbarger hit on two free throws and junior forward LeAnn Douglas hit a field goal to increase the lead back to double digits at 56-46 and three minutes remaining.

Indiana Wesleyan still led by 10 points (58-48) with 2:31 left and seemed to have the game wrapped up.

But Goshen was not done yet as an old fashion three-point play, a missed IWU field goal and another GC bucket quickly brought Goshen back to five points at 58-53 and still 1:47 to play.

After the teams combined for three turnovers, Goshen brought the game to a single possession at 58-55 with 48 seconds left on the clock. IWU junior guard Kayla Thompson would hit one of two free throws to extend the lead to 59-55.

Goshen quickly moved the ball up court and with 31 seconds remaining the Maple Leafs scored as the Wildcats lead was down to 59-57.

Following a foul on Goshen, Thompson went to the line to attempt to ice the win. But she missed both free throws and Goshen had one chance to tie the game. But the shot that could have tied the score was blocked by Hessel to secure the IWU victory.

Hessel led all scorers with 19 points on 7-of-8 shooting. She also had eight rebounds and four assists. Thompson was the only other Wildcat in double figures with 14 points on 3-of-8 shooting from deep. Thompson added nine rebounds, four assists and three steals in the win.

Indiana Wesleyan will next play at 1 p.m. on Saturday, November 28 as the Wildcats host non-conference foe Indiana Tech in Luckey Arena.