LA CROSSE, Wis. -- The No. 4-ranked Indiana Wesleyan University women's basketball team exacted a small portion of revenge on Friday with a 75-59 victory over three-time defending national champion and No. 2-ranked Northwestern (Iowa) College.

The two teams met in the first game of the 16th Annual Viterbo Invitational NAIA Showcase in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Northwestern has eliminated Indiana Wesleyan in the NAIA Division II National Championship Quarterfinals the last two seasons, including last year when Indiana Wesleyan was ranked No. 1.

"It was a total team effort," said Indiana Wesleyan head coach Steve Brooks. "I think we won this game on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday in practice. There were some good things that happened for us in that stretch. I think we grew up a little bit as a team."

After falling behind 7-1 to open the game, Indiana Wesleyan scored 14 of the next 20 points to lead 15-13 and never trailed the rest of the night. Just past the midway point of the first half Indiana Wesleyan exploded for a 14-2 run to lead 29-17. Sophomore forward Katrina Blackmon scored in the paint for the final points of the first half to give IWU its largest lead of the half at 35-22.

Early in the second half the Crusaders went on a 6-0 run to trim the deficit to 41-32 and trailed by single digits for the first time in the second half. Wildcat senior forward Paige Smith scored in the paint on the next possession to ignite a 16-4 run as the advantage remained double digits the rest of the game.

With 7:14 remaining IWU senior guard Claire Ray scored an old fashioned 3-point play for a 60-38 lead. The 22-point cushion was the largest of the evening.

Over the next five minutes Northwestern went on a 17-7 run to close within 12 at 67-55 and 1:57 on the clock. Indiana Wesleyan answered with Ray as she scored eight points in the final 1:33 to keep Northwestern at bay and hold the double digit lead. Ray hit all six free throws she attempted in the final minute and a half.

"I think we handled the ball fairly well," Brooks added. "We had a couple turnovers but for the most part we handled the ball and their pressure and got the ball in spots it needed to be. And tonight we made our free throws. Claire went to the line at the end and hit all of her free throws. Emma was a big key because they struggled to guard her penetration and that created opportunities for everyone."

Ray scored a game-high 22 points and finished a perfect 15-of-15 from the foul line. Ray's 15 free throws ties a school record which was done three other times and was last done by Andie Lehr in 1994-95. She also becomes the fifth player in program history to hit all of her free throws with a minimum of 10 attempts and her 15 is the most on that short list.

Smith added 20 points and was 9-of-14 from the floor while junior guard Taylor Goshert pulled down a game-high and career-best 11 rebounds. Sophomore guard Emma Stahl was the third Wildcat in double figures with a career-high 16 points on 7-of-10 shooting. Stahl's previous high was 10 points last year as a freshman. She also earned five assists and four steals while playing for 36 minutes.

"It's only game two of the season and there is a lot of basketball to be played but this is definitely a good win for our program," continued Brooks. "We are going to take it but the most important thing is to keep improving and come back tomorrow and do it again. If we don't play well tomorrow this game doesn't mean anything."

Indiana Wesleyan will finish the tournament against Dakota State (S.D.) University at 1 p.m.