By Justin Bryant, IWU Sports Info

Mishawaka, IN (March 3, 2008) – The NAIA No. 11 Indiana Wesleyan University women’s basketball team failed to fully overcome a 13 point first half deficit as they fell 50-45 to NAIA No. 5 Bethel College Monday night.

The Wildcats (28-5) fell behind early as the Pilots started the game with a 13-0 run. IWU was able to fight back in the first half behind the play of freshman Elaine Hessel, who had a team-high eight points in the first half, to cut the halftime lead to 23-21.
IWU senior Brooke Amstutz knocked down a three-pointer with 10 minutes left to play in the game to tie the score for the first time since the opening tip-off 34-34. The Wildcats and Pilots traded baskets down the stretch as neither team could pull away.

The Wildcats took their first and only lead of the game 45-44 with just a minute and half left to play as senior Lisa Thompson completed an old-fashioned three-point play at the free throw line. Bethel shut out the Wildcats for the rest of the game though as they scored the final six points of the game for the 50-45 victory.

Thompson led the Wildcats with 12 points. The only other IWU player in double figures was junior Andrea Fichter with 10 points.

IWU has received an at-large bid to the NAIA National Tournament in Sioux City, Iowa on March 12-18.