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Valerie King scored 14 of her game-high 22 points in the second half as 25th-ranked Cincinnati topped Middle Tennessee 79-59 on Saturday at Shoemaker Center.

Debbie Merrill contributed 19 points for the Bearcats (2-1), while K.B. Sharp chipped in 15 and Carolyn Alexander had 10. Sharp also added a team-high seven rebounds and seven assists.

Patrice Holmes paced the Lady Raiders (1-1) with 18 points and Eboni Harvey had 12.

UC led 32-25 at halftime but opened the second half with a 9-2 run and never looked back. Holmes' 3-pointer with 11:30 remaining drew Middle Tennessee State within six, but the Bearcats awakened, stringing together a 22-5 run in nearly six minutes.

UC did much of its damage at the free throw line, where it held a 20-3 advantage. The Lady Raiders won the rebounding battle 31-25.

The Bearcats return to action Thursday when they visit Eastern Kentucky. Tipoff is 7 p.m.

CINCINNATI 79, MIDDLE TENNESSEE ST. 59

MIDDLE TENNESSEE ST. (59) - Holmes 8-15 0-0 18, Kirby 5-6 2-2 12, McClinic 0-1 0-0 0, Penttila 2-6 1-2 6, Parviainen 3-7 0-0 6, Gray 1-1 0-0 2, Justice 2-6 0-0 4, Stoval 3-4 0-0 6, Fisher 2-8 0-0 5. Totals: 26-54 3-4 59.

CINCINNATI (79) - Alexander 5-7 0-0 10, Young 0-3 5-6 5, Merrill 6-12 7-8 19, Sharp 5-8 2-2 15, King 7-14 3-4 22, Dozier 0-0 0-0 0, Harvey 1-2 3-4 6, Piepho 0-0 0-0 0, Hillman 0-3 0-0 0, Stephens 1-1 0-0 2. Totals: 25-50 20-24 79.

Halftime: UC 32, MTS 25. 3-pointers: MTS 4-13 (Holmes 2-5, Kirby 0-1, Penttila 1-1, Parviainen 0-2, Justice 0-1, Fisher 1-3), UC 9-15 (Alexander 0-1, Sharp 3-4, King 5-8, Harvey 1-1, Hillman 0-1). Rebounds: MTS 31 (Holmes 7, Kirby 7), UC 25 (Sharp 7). Assists: MTS 11 (Holmes 5), UC 22 (Sharp 7). Records: UC 2-1, MTS 1-1.