TOWSON, Md. – A 13-5 run to close out the first half broke open a  close game and lifted the University of Delaware to a 72-54 win over the Towson University women's basketball team on Thursday night in Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) action. Redshirt senior forward LaTorri Hines-Allen led the Tigers with 17 points and nine rebounds.

The first half was a back-and-forth affair as the teams battled through two ties and five lead changes. The Tigers took an 8-3 lead on a lay-up from Hines-Allen at 14:44. Delaware responded by scoring eight of the next 10 points and took an 11-10 lead with 12 minutes to go in the half. The two teams battled each other on both ends of the court as senior guard Markell Smith's lay-up at 8:42 gave Towson a 15-14 lead. Five straight points put the Blue Hens ahead 18-15 with 7:02 left in the half. A three-pointer from freshman guard Shanea Butler allowed Towson to tie the game at 18-18 with 6:40 to go. However, Butler's triple was the last point the Tigers scored until Hines-Allen hit a lay-up at 1:50. During that scoring drought, Delaware started the 13-5 run that allowed the Blue Hens to take a 31-23 lead at the break. Erika Brown scored nine points during what proved to be a crucial scoring stretch for the Blue Hens.

Delaware (9-11, 4-5 CAA) shot 38.7% from the field in the first half while the Tigers shot 29%. The Blue Hens held a 23-18 edge in the rebounding battle. Brown led all scorers with 11 first half points while Hines-Allen had seven for the Tigers.

A three-pointer from Courtni Green at 14:40 of the second half allowed the home team to extend its lead to 43-27. A pair of foul shots from Hines-Allen made it a 43-29 game with 14:13 to play. Delaware then used a 12-4 run to take a 55-33 lead with 7:23 to play. Green had eight of the Blue Hens' 12 during that stretch. Towson (8-13, 4-5 CAA) scored 16 of the game's next 23 points and cut the Delaware lead to 13, 62-49 with 1:58 to play. Freshman center Daijha Thomas and Hines-Allen each tallied four points during that scoring stretch for the Tigers. After Delaware pushed its lead back to 15, a three-pointer from senior forward Camille Alberson made it a 12 point game, 64-52 with one minute to play. Delaware went 8-for-10 from the foul line in the final minute to seal the 72-54 victory.

The Blue Hens shot 45.8% from the field in the second half and 41.8% for the game. Towson shot 40.7% in the second 20 minutes and 34.5% for the game. Delaware won the rebounding battle, 40-35.

Hines-Allen added three assists and two blocks to go with her team-high 17 points. Alberson matched her season-high with 10 points and four rebounds. Senior guard Ciara Webb contributed nine points, seven rebounds and a team-high four assists.

Green led Delaware with 23 points and five rebounds while Hannah Jardine added 14 points and 10 rebounds.

The Tigers will be back in action on Sunday, Feb. 1 when they host College of Charleston at 1 p.m. in SECU Arena.

The 2015 CAA Women's Basketball Championship will be held March 12-15 at the Show Place Arena in Upper Marlboro, Md. Call 1-855-TU-TIGER for your tickets.