WINONA LAKE, Ind. -- Following a close first half of play the No. 4-ranked Indiana Wesleyan University women's basketball team outscored Rochester (Mich.) College by 20 points in the second half en route to a 55-32 victory at the KCCCF Optimist Classic hosted by Grace (Ind.) College in Winona Lake, Indiana.

Indiana Wesleyan turned the game around with five minutes remaining in the first half. By that point, IWU trailed 17-11 but a 9-0 run to finish the half put Indiana Wesleyan up 20-17 at halftime.

Two minutes in to the second half the Wildcats held a 24-21 lead. IWU would then outscore the Warriors 27-7 to build a 23-point cushion at 51-28. The Warriors were limited to only seven points in the 15 minute stretch.

The Indiana Wesleyan defense frustrated Rochester to just 27.9-percent (12 of 43) shooting and 23.1-percent (3 of 13) from 3-point range. IWU finished the morning with 13 steals and forced 22 Rochester turnovers.

The Wildcats had an excellent performance offensively during the second half. IWU shot 50.0-percent (14 of 28) during the period and hit 5-of-12 from beyond the arc.

Senior forward Paige Smith led all players with 13 points while junior guard Taylor Goshert just missed a double-double with 11 points and nine rebounds. Goshert connected on three 3-pointers in the second half. Sophomore forward Katrina Blackmon was the third Wildcat in double figures with 10 points. Off the bench, sophomore center Val Sohasky earned four points and six rebounds while sophomore guard Teneil Krebs added five points and three boards.

Indiana Wesleyan improves to a perfect 6-0 this season while Rochester falls to 3-4. The two teams will meet once more this season when IWU hosts RC in the Leah Whittaker Memorial Tournament in early December.

IWU will next open Crossroads League play at 7 p.m. on Tuesday in Luckey Arena. Indiana Wesleyan hosts Marian (Ind.) University in their only contest of Thanksgiving week.