GARY, Ind. – Makayla Best scored a team-high 18 points for the Indiana University Northwest women's basketball team, third ranked Indiana Wesleyan however came away with the 79-61 victory Tuesday night.
 
Best scored five quick points in the opening frame, and the RedHawks (5-5) had a slim one-point lead with 6:14 left. That would be the last lead for IUN as the Wildcats grabbed a four-point advantage going into the second.
 
The RedHawks would stay on the heels of IWU when Best scored two more on a drive to the bucket to make it 26-22. IUN would not draw closer than four but would keep it that when Tiara Jackson scored two of her 11 on a layup later in the period.
 
After the Jackson basket, the Wildcats responded with a 10-2 run to close the opening half and went into the locker room up 39-27.
 
Midway through the third quarter, IUN saw its 12-point deficit climb to 21 (54-33), but Alyna Santiago jump started a RedHawk rally with a free throw. IUN used a 14-2 run and closed out the frame down just nine.
 
IWU would go back up by double digits, but Emma Schmidt drained a three and the RedHawks got within nine at the 7:36 mark. The Wildcats though would not allow IUN to get any closer as a long run ended the IUN comeback bid.
 
The RedHawks are back in action Thursday when they take on NCAA Division I foe Valparaiso on ESPN Plus starting at 6 p.m.