FORT COLLINS, Colo. – The University of Delaware women's basketball team dominated the University of Houston to win Game One of the Coors Rocky Mountain Invitational at Colorado State University, 72-43, on Friday evening at Moby Arena.

Delaware (2-1 overall) freshman forward/guard Elena Delle Donne and junior guard Tesia Harris each tallied 21 points on the night, while Delle Donne added a game-high 10 rebounds to notch her second-straight double double.

Though Houston (3-3 overall) recorded the first basket of the game, Delaware scored 19 unanswered points to lead 19-3 at 14:23. Delaware kept a steady double-digit lead throughout the first until 4:06 when the Cougars came within eight of tying the Blue Hens. The teams exchanged a pair of field goals before the Hens hit a layup and a three to lead by 13 with 1:10 lingering on the clock. Houston closed out the half connecting on the back-end of a pair of free throws and bring the game to 42-30.

Delaware's 42 first-half points are the most in the first half of play since the Hens drained 42 on March 9, 2007 against Virginia Commonwealth University in the quarterfinals of the Colonial Athletic Association Tournament. The Hens won the contest, 79-58, led by Tyresa Smith's 22 points.

In the second half, Delaware again got off to a strong start, outscoring the Cougars, 13-1, in the first seven minutes. Leading 55-31 at 13:10, Delaware went on to lead by as many as 32 points at 6:49. Capitalizing on the Cougars 19 turnovers and 27.8 percent field goal shooting, Delaware will advance to play the winner of the Colorado State versus Texas State game, tomorrow at a time to be determined.

Houston, who received three votes in the Nov. 23 ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll, was first to get on the board with a three pointer at 19:21. Delle Donne put the Hens ahead for good with back-to-back buckets. Junior Ariene Jenkins went 2-for-2 from the charity stripe before Harris got hot.

Harris scored four and Delle Donne followed with the same count, before Harris drained a three and a jumper to top off the 19-point run. Houston ended the streak at 13:42 with a Brittney Scott jumper. Making her collegiate debut, Delaware freshman Lauren Carra swished a shot from beyond the arc to put the Hens ahead 22-5 at 13:23.

The teams exchanged baskets and Delaware kept a steady double-digit lead until the Cougars hit back-to-back three-pointers to trail by just eight. A Delle Donne layup at 3:18 gave the Hens a 10-point advantage, though Houston responded to bring the game to 37-29. The Cougars implemented a full-court press in the waning minutes of the half, but the Harris/Delle Donne tandem combined to score five before the Cougars hit one of two from the foul line to enter the half with Delaware leading, 42-30.

Like the first, UD again started the half in commanding fashion as the Hens went on a 13-1 campaign to lead 55-31 at 13:10. The Cougars scored a pair of their 13 second-half points on a jumper at 12:50 to bring the game within 22, though that is as close as the Texas team would get to UD.

Also making her collegiate debut, Delaware native Jaquetta May notched three of the Hens next four, before the Cougars found Courtney Taylor inside for a layup. Delaware continued to dictate play with eight unanswered points to take a 67-35 lead at 6:49. The Hens remained scoreless for over four minutes, while the Cougars notched five.

A Jenkins' free throw and a three off the fingertips of sophomore Megan McLean were backed by three Houston free throws, but it was a Hens' free throw to that iced the game. Sophomore Jasmine Gibson hit one of two from the line to finalize all scoring at 72-43.

"I thought the lineup changes were a big part of our success tonight," said veteran head coach Tina Martin. "We've got a good thing going with our chemistry in sync and we're thrilled about that -- it was a great win for us tonight."

Delaware's aggressive zone pressure led to 19 turnovers and 22 UD points. The Hens tallied 24 points on put-backs, to the Cougars four, evident by the Hens' out-rebounding of Houston, 51-32.

In addition to her double double, Delle Donne led the Hens with five assists. Jenkins pulled down eight rebounds for the Blue and Gold, while sophomore guard Jocelyn Bailey and Harris each recorded seven. Bailey and junior Vanessa Kabongo made three steals a piece.

Delaware will play the winner of Colorado State and Texas State game on Saturday, Nov. 28 at 5 or 7 p.m. in the Coors Rocky Mountain Invitational championship game.