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Bales, Harding lift Duke over Bowling Green

Dec 20, 2006 - 4:33 AM CANCUN, Mexico (Ticker) -- Alison Bales scored 15 points and Lindsey Harding added 13 as fourth-ranked Duke used a second-half push to post a 55-46 victory over Bowling Green in the first round of the Caribbean Classic.

Bales also grabbed eight rebounds and blocked six shots for the Blue Devils, who grabbed the decisive edge with a 10-0 spurt midway through the second half.

Harding hit a jumper to tie the score at 31-31 with 12:50 to play and added a layup after a 3-pointer by Emily Waner. Wanisha Smith capped the spurt with a shot from the arc that made it 39-31 with 9:48 to play.

The Falcons (7-2) closed within 39-36 on a jumper by Ali Mann with 8:27 left, but Smith came back with a jumper and Bales added a layup and two free throws for a 45-36 advantage with 6:29 remaining.

Bowling Green, which had a six-game winning streak snapped, got no closer than four points thereafter.

Smith and Abby Waner scored nine points each for Duke (10-0), which shot 52 percent (12-of-23) in the second half. The Blue Devils next will face host SMU on Wednesday.

Mann had 15 points and Lindsay Goldsberry 12 for the Falcons, who shot 29 percent (16-of-56) for the contest.