WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – Toledo dropped a 70-56 decision against Western Kentucky (8-3) in Sunday's first round of the West Palm Invitational in the Countess de Hoernle Student Life Center on the campus of Keiser University. With the loss, the Rockets fall to 7-3 on the season.
 
Junior Kaayla McIntyre paced UT with 16 points, nine boards and a game-high five blocked shots. McIntyre knocked down 5-of-9 shots from the floor and a perfect 6-of-6 from the free throw line in a collegiate-best 37 minutes to score in double figures for a career-high seventh-straight game.
 
The 2017 Mid-American Conference champions also received a career-high 11 points from sophomore Sara Rokkanen, 10 by junior Mikaela Boyd and nine from sophomore Mariella Santucci against last year's Conference USA champions.

As a team, the Midnight Blue & Gold shot 35.3 percent (18-of-51) from the field, including 22.7 percent (5-of-22) from three-point range, and a season-best 83.3 percent (15-of-18) from the charity stripe.
 
Tashia Brown led the Lady Toppers with a game-high 29 points, while Ivy Brown had 14 points and a game-high 10 caroms.
 
The Rockets looked sharp early, taking advantage of six points each McIntyre and Rokkanen to take a 22-14 lead after the opening quarter. McIntyre converted three layups and Rokkanen buried a pair of treys to give the designated home team an early eight-point cushion.
 
Western Kentucky utilized a game-changing 15-3 run to open the second period and held a 37-32 advantage at the intermission. Sidney Bopp and T. Brown spearheaded the rally with six points each and helped the visitors outscore the Rockets, 23-10, in the pivotal quarter. It proved to be a lead WKU would not surrender.
  
T. Brown remained on-fire shooting the basketball in the third quarter to single-handedly extend the visitors' margin to double figures, 55-45, after 30 minutes of action. The left-handed sharp shooter scored her team's final 14 points and 16 total in the stanza to make it a 10-point difference heading into the final period.
 
Toledo pulled within seven points, 59-52, midway through the fourth quarter, but would get no closer as the Lady Toppers closed with an 11-4 burst to set the final score at 70-56.  
 
As a squad, Western Kentucky converted 43.8 percent (28-of-64) from the field and 75.0 percent (12-of-16) from the free throw line.
 
The Rockets will now play Southwestern Athletic Conference member (SWAC) member Southern in the second round of the two-game tourney tomorrow at 2:30 p.m. UT and SU will do battle for the first time on the hardwood.

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