MARION, Ind. -- No. 6-ranked Indiana Wesleyan University women’s basketball never trailed Wednesday night en route to a 70-57 victory over county rival Taylor (Ind.) inside Luckey Arena.

Indiana Wesleyan improves to 16-3 and a perfect 7-0 in the Crossroads League. IWU has won six straight games and holds a two game lead in the Crossroads League standings. Taylor drops to 11-8 overall and 4-3 in league play.

Indiana Wesleyan scored 8 of the first 10 points to force a Taylor timeout just two minutes into the game. Four different Indiana Wesleyan players scored layups to account for the first eight points.

The Wildcats continued to push the ball in as they built their lead to 22-12. Tori Kraft (JR/Harbor Beach, Mich.) banked in a 3-pointer with 7:42 remaining to give IWU a 25-13 advantage. The 3-pointer was the first points of the game the Wildcats did not score in the paint.

Katrina Blackmon (SR/Marion, Ind.) completed an old-fashion 3-point play to extend the IWU lead to 35-15. It was the first 20 point cushion of the game. Indiana Wesleyan held that 20 point lead into halftime at 40-20 and outscored Taylor 30-6 in the paint.

“I was really pleased with how we played in the first half today,” said Indiana Wesleyan head coach Steve Brooks. “We competed the way we wanted to compete and we were able to set the tone.”

Indiana Wesleyan increased their lead to as many as 24 points in the second half when Kelsey Key (SO/Anderson, Ind.) drilled a 3-pointer with six minutes remaining for a 63-39 advantage. Taylor made a late push with an 18-7 run to finish the game. TU narrowed the deficit to as little as 12 points before IWU claimed the 70-57 victory.

“I was disappointed in our performance in the second half,” continued Brooks. “We gave them straight line drives. We cannot play that way and win. We need to fix that and put together two good halves.”

Indiana Wesleyan shot 51.7-percent (31 of 60) from the floor and 41.7-percent (5 of 12) from 3-point range. IWU shot just six free throws in the game and made three. Taylor was held to 37.3-percent (22 of 59) shooting.

Blackmon finished with 16 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals to lead Indiana Wesleyan. She led all players in the game in all four of those categories.

“She competed,” Brooks said of Blackmon. “I am proud of her effort tonight.”

Key contributed 13 points on 6-of-9 shooting while Carlee Cottrell (JR/West Bloomfield, Mich.) finished with 7 points.

Indiana Wesleyan remains home inside Luckey Arena on Saturday when they host Spring Arbor (Mich.). Tip-off is slated for 1 p.m.