CORVALLIS - The Oregon State women's basketball team gave its fans 20 minutes of excellence to savor during the 18-day interval before its next home game.

The Beavers (2-0) completely dominated previously-

unbeaten Houston 46-18 in the first half of an eventual 69-47 victory on Wednesday before a crowd of 719 to complete their brief homestand with two lopsided victories. OSU crushed Sacramento State 100-45 on Sunday in its season-opener.

The Beavers don't return to Gill Coliseum until a Dec. 7 game against Portland State. They are in a tournament in the Bahamas over the Thanksgiving weekend, and then head to the Bay Area for a Dec. 3 game against San Francisco.

OSU shot 50 percent from the field (16-32) and 3-point range (4-8) and made 10 of 12 free throws in the first half to essentially decide the outcome. It also forced 14 turnovers, held the Cougars (2-1) to 24 percent shooting (6-25), kept them scoreless for a seven-minute stretch and used a 27-4 run to build a lead that was 20 points or more for the final 27 minutes.

"We played really well to open the game, we executed our offense, got some second-chance looks and got some key stops," coach LaVonda Wagner said. "Alex Mitchell came in and gave us a post presence on both ends."

Mitchell had eight points and three rebounds in 15 minutes and teamed with guard Talisa Rhea (12 points, four assists) to spark a breakaway half highlighted by 12 assists on 16 baskets, and a 23-14 rebounding edge.

"We gave them one look at the basket," Wagner said. "They're an athletic and aggressive team."

Houston won its first two games by a combined 36 points, but OSU's first half took the Cougars out of their game.

Rhea finished with 18 points and six rebounds, Mitchell 16 points and seven rebounds and post Tiffany Ducker had seven points, 13 rebounds and four steals. Rhea was 4 of 9 on 3-point shots and now has 14 bonus baskets in two games.

"I knew we needed a post presence," Mitchell said. "I pretty much focused on defense and on offense I made sure I held my position and caught the ball strong when my teammates passed to me."

Rhea had three 3-pointers during the aforementioned

27-4 run and then delivered two subsequent assists to freshman Kirsten Tilleman, the second of which was a crisp no-look pass from the foul line that led to a layup and a 38-12 advantage with 3:54 remaining in the first half. OSU led by 30 (42-12) on Mitchell's layup with 1:46 left, again on an assist from Rhea, and cruised from there.

OSU stalled somewhat offensively in the second half, with 12 turnovers and only three assists, but even an 8-0 run didn't bring Houston closer than 21 points.

Oregon State 69, Houston 47

HOUSTON: Taylor 6-11 3-4 16, Hill 3-9 1-1 7, Scott 1-7 0-0 2, Landry 2-5 0-0 4, Button 2-10 3-6 8, Jakobsone 0-1 0-0 0, Mason 2-4 0-0 4, Joseph 2-4 0-2 4, Johnson 1-6 0-0 2. Totals: 19-57 7-13 47.

OREGON STATE: Stacey Nichols 0-0 0-0 0, Tiffany Ducker 2-5 3-6 7, Mercedes Fox-Griffin 4-10 0-0 8, Talisa Rhea 5-13 4-4 18, Brittney Davis 3-10 2-2 8, Kassandra McAlister 0-0 1-2 1, Alex Mitchell 6-9 4-4 16, Brittany Kennedy 1-6 2-2 4, Kirsten Tilleman 2-2 0-0 4, Anita Burdick 1-1 1-2 3, Brittany Eskridge 0-1 0-0 0. Totals: 24-57 17-22 69.

Halftime: Oregon State 46, Houston 18. 3-Point Goals: Houston 2-14 (Taylor 1-1, Button 1-5, Scott 0-4, Jakobsome 0-1), Oregon State 4-12 (Rhea 4-9, Davis 0-1, Fox-Griffin 0-1). Fouled Out: None. Rebounds: Oregon State 45 (Ducker 13), Houston 30 (Taylor 8). Assists: Oregon State 15 (Fox-Griffin 7), Houston 8 (Landry 4). Turnovers: Houston 21, Oregon State 18. Total Fouls: Houston 17, Oregon State 14. Technicals: None. Att.: 719.