INDIANAPOLIS - The Marian University women's basketball team jumped out to a 14-4 lead over the first six minutes en route to an 83-54 victory over Goshen College on Wednesday night at the Physical Education Center.

The Knights improved to 16-6 on the season and 8-5 in Mid-Central College Conference play. Goshen dropped to 3-22 overall and 0-13 in the MCC.

Junior Adrienne Sahm led four Knights in double figures with 14 points, while juniors Natalie Robinson and Whitley Emerson each tallied 12 points. Senior Emily Smithson scored 11 points for the Knights. Emerson had a team-high six rebounds, while Smithson added a game-high four steals as the Knights notched 17 steals in the game. Junior Natasha Marshall added a game-high five assists and scored eight points for MU.

After jumping out to the 14-4 lead over the first six minutes of the game, the Knights out-scored the Maple Leafs by a 12-7 margin over the next eight minutes to open a 15-point lead, 26-11, with 5:43 to go in the half. With the score 29-15, MU went on a 7-0 run to open a 21-point advantage, 36-15, with 38 seconds to go in the half. Goshen was able to close the half with the final points, but still trailed 36-17 at the interval.

The Knights forced 18 Goshen turnovers in the half to the tune of 27 points. They also out-scored the Leafs by an 18-8 margin in the paint. However, Goshen had a 17-15 rebounding edge at the half.

The second half saw the Knights push their lead to as 32 with 7:54 remaining as they out-scored the Leafs by a 47-37 margin in the final 20 minutes. The scored 44 points off 26 Goshen turnovers. The Knights tallied 17 steals in the game, which was the second-highest total in 2011-12. They also had 21 assists on 31 baskets in the game and shot 44 percent (31-for-70) in the game. It was the eighth game in which MU tallied more than 20 assists in 2011-12.

MU was out-rebounded for the game, but held a 16-10 edge in offensive rebounds and had a stretch at the end in which the Knights grabbed four straight offensive boards in the win.

The Knights, who are receiving votes in the NAIA Division II Women's Basketball Coaches' Poll, are now tied for third with the University of Saint Francis (Ind.) in the MCC.

MU will hit the road for a tough MCC matchup at Taylor University (16-9; 6-7 MCC) on Saturday afternoon. Tip-off is slated for 1 p.m.