NORMAN, Okla. — If No. 2 Oklahoma is playing at its best, All-America center Courtney Paris doesn't even have to be the one who takes over a game for the Sooners.

Her twin sister, Ashley Paris, scored 21 points, Amanda Thompson added 20 and Oklahoma acclimated to its highest ranking in school history with an 85-65 win against Middle Tennessee last night.

The Sooners (2-0) were playing their first game since matching the program's highest point in history in the AP poll, achieved in the final rankings before their run to the 2002 national championship game.

They took control with a 13-0 run while Courtney Paris was on the bench midway through the first half.

"If they want to take her away, we have other guys who can score," Oklahoma coach Sherri Coale said.

Courtney Paris racked up her 94th consecutive double-double with 13 points and 13 rebounds before fouling out with 3:20 remaining.

RANKED WOMEN

No. 4 North Carolina 73, No. 23 Xavier 67: Rashanda McCants scored 20 of her 27 points in the second half as the Tar Heels (4-0) rallied from a 53-48 deficit to beat the Musketeers (2-1) at Chapel Hill, N.C., in the women's Preseason NIT.

No. 13 Vanderbilt 80, Eastern Kentucky 38: Christina Wirth scored 16 points, including four 3-pointers, and the Commodores (3-0) opened the game with a 14-0 run, including six points by Hannah Tuomi, to cruise past the Colonels (2-1) at Nashville, Tenn.

No. 15 Notre Dame 96, Evansville 61: Ashley Barlow scored 19 points, Becca Bruszewski added a career-high 18 points and the Irish (2-0) forced 31 turnovers in their home opener to rout the Purple Aces (1-1) at South Bend, Ind.

No. 17 Ohio State 78, Syracuse 71: Jantel Lavender had 22 points and 10 rebounds, Samantha Prahalis added 17 points and the Buckeyes (3-0) led 34-28 at the half and never lost the lead in beating the Orange (2-1) at Columbus, Ohio.

No. 20 Auburn 71, Georgia Southern 45: Alli Smalley scored 12 of her 18 points in the second half and the Tigers (3-0) went on a 22-6 run to start the second half to open a 58-33 lead in beating the Eagles (2-1) at Statesboro, Ga.

MEN'S TOP 25

No. 5 Michigan State 70, IPFW 59: Raymar Morgan scored eight of his 22 points during a decisive 13-0 second-half run as the Spartans (2-0), who led 32-24 at halftime, fell behind twice in the second half, but rallied to beat the Mastodons (0-2) at Fort Wayne, Ind.

No. 20 Wake Forest 120, North Carolina-Wilmington 88: Jeff Teague scored a career-high 31 points, James Johnson added 25 and the Demon Deacons (2-0) recycled 24 turnovers into 41 points to rout the Seahawks (2-1) at Winston-Salem, N.C.

No. 23 Villanova 77, Niagara 62: Scottie Reynolds scored 19 points, Corey Fisher had 15 and Reggie Redding 14 as the Wildcats (3-0) never trailed in beating the Eagles (1-1) at Villanova, Pa.