MARION, Ind. -- No. 3-ranked Indiana Wesleyan University women’s basketball opened the 2014 Leah Whittaker Memorial Classic on Friday night with an 84-44 victory over St. Francis (Ill.) in Luckey Arena.

Even with the 84 point outburst the Wildcats were unable to boast a double digit scorer. Five Wildcats led the team with eight points and all 14 Wildcats that dressed connected on at least one field goal.

Four of the five Indiana Wesleyan starters notched eight points this evening. Emma Stahl (SR/Elkhart, Ind.), Carlee Cottrell (JR/West Bloomfield, Mich.), Teneil Krebs (SR/Bucyrus, Ohio), and Katrina Blackmon (SR/Marion, Ind.) all finished with eight points while the fifth starter, Chelsea Winner (SO/Maria Stein, Ohio), added seven points. Jessica Brown (JR/Greenfield, Ind.) was the fifth player with eight points and Anna Imhoff (FR/Carmel, Ind.) added seven points.

Indiana Wesleyan was credited with 24 assists on 33 field goals made. Cottrell and Krebs each had five assists while Blackmon and Tori Kraft (JR/Harbor Beach, Mich.) each contributed three helpers. IWU ended the night shooting 54.1-percent (33 of 61) from the field and 38.1-percent (8 of 21) from 3-point range.

The Wildcats also won the battle on the boards 43-34. Haley Woodruff (SO/Evansville, Ind.) earned a team-high seven rebounds in less than nine minutes of action.

The Indiana Wesleyan defense suffocated St. Francis all night long. St. Francis shot a dismal 24.5-percent (12 of 49) on the evening and they were at just 15.8-percent in the first half as they hit 3-of-19. IWU forced 23 turnovers as Blackmon and Jessica Stewart (JR/Fishers, Ind.) each had two steals.

IWU improves to 3-0 this season while USF drops to 0-3.

Indiana Wesleyan will finish the Leah Whittaker Memorial Classic tomorrow at 3 p.m. in Luckey Arena. IWU battles No. 12-ranked Cardinal Stritch (Wis.) in the final game of the weekend. Cardinal Stritch defeated Taylor tonight 51-47.