MARION, Ind. -- Sophomore Elaine Hessel stole the show on Senior Day for the women's basketball team as the forward scorched visiting Marian (Ind.) College for a career-high 35 points in the Indiana Wesleyan 72-46 victory.

Hessel was 14-of-17 from the floor and a perfect 6-of-6 in the second half. She was equally flawless from the free throw line with a 7-for-7 performance. Hessel surpassed her previous career-high of 30 points before the midway point of the second half.

Her previous career-high of 30 points came earlier in the season in a 78-48 victory over University of Michigan-Dearborn on December 19.

Although Hessel and the Wildcats won by 26 points, the Knights were able to battle early. Marian held a 10-8 lead until sophomore forward LeAnn Douglas carried Indiana Wesleyan on a 13-0 run for a 21-10 advantage. During the spurt, Douglas scored six points and she finished the day with 15.

Marian (18-10, 6-8 MCC) fought back over the next five minutes of action and cut the IWU lead to 25-22 with 3:50 before halftime. But the rest of the half belonged to Indiana Wesleyan as they outscored Marian 8-2 in that time to build a 33-24 lead at the break.

Indiana Wesleyan quickly increased their advantage to 11 points to start the second half, but Marian scored six unanswered points to draw within five at 35-30.

But the Wildcats would dominate the next 10 plus minutes of action. Hessel scored 15 of her points in the stretch as IWU torched the Knights for 32 of the next 37 points. By the time the dust had settled, the Wildcats held an insurmountable lead of 67-35 with 6:52 left on the clock.

The 32 point lead was the largest of the contest.

Indiana Wesleyan (20-8, 9-5 MCC) capitalized on 26 Marian turnovers for 31 points. IWU also held a 42-24 scoring advantage in points in the paint.

The Wildcats shot 51.1-percent (24 of 47) on the afternoon and were 21-of-26 (80.8-percent) from the foul line. Marian was held to 40.9-percent (18 of 44) from the field.

IWU sophomore guard Kayla Thompson matched a career high with eight assists. She finished with eight points and a pair of steals.

In the final regular season home game for the seniors, forward Kyra Pappas scored four points and pulled down five boards while guard Andrea Fichter added two points and two assists.

Indiana Wesleyan takes to the road for their final two regular season games of the season. The Wildcats will play at Grace (Ind.) College with a 7 p.m. tip-off on Wednesday, February 18 in Winona Lake, Indiana.