The Lady Toppers utilized intense defensive pressure on Sunday against Brescia, forcing the Lady Bearcats into 33 turnovers in a 105-44 exhibition win in Diddle Arena.

Western converted Brescia’s miscues into 45 points and recorded 18 steals, a result Head Coach Mary Taylor Cowles said is a product of players buying into the defensive game plan.

“They understand the system and understand the principles of our defense,” Cowles said. “I think we’re seeing some of that with the amount of steals we were able to get and the deflections even — just how many times we’re able to get our hands on the ball.”

Brescia took the lead at 3-2 after a three-pointer by junior forward Clarissa Houston, but Western regained the advantage after a layup by senior forward Dominique Duck and never trailed again.

The Lady Toppers shot 51.4 percent from the field and 42.9 percent from three-point range.

All 14 active players on Western’s roster recorded time on the floor, and all but freshman walk-on Tara Arnold scored.

Senior forward Arnika Brown said that the team’s depth is a welcome commodity, especially to her as a starter.

“I’m happy to know if I come out that somebody else can at least get a couple turnovers for a few minutes while I catch my breath,” she said.

Junior guard Hope Brown led all scorers off the bench with 20 points.

“Hope has shot the ball extremely well in practice,” Cowles said. “Her communication level tonight and her leadership when she was on the floor were really, really big.”

Senior guard Kenzie Rich added 17 points, while freshman guard Courtney Clifton pitched in 15.

Junior guard Amy McNear had 12 points and five assists.

The Lady Toppers open their regular season on Saturday by hosting Eastern Kentucky at 7 p.m.