Houts helps No. 16 Georgia rally to beat Rutgers 49-48

No. 16 Georgia rallies to beat Rutgers

ATHENS, Ga. — Ashley Houts scored 17 points to lead No. 16 Georgia to a come-from-behind 49-48 win over Rutgers on Sunday.

Georgia (3-0) trailed 44-32 with 7:14 to play after Rutgers freshman Monique Oliver’s layup. Houts answered with a 3-pointer to ignite a 15-2 Georgia run. A 3-pointer by freshman Anne Marie Armstrong put Georgia ahead 47-46 with 2:04 to play.

Rutgers had a chance with 11.2 seconds left, but an apparent backcourt call was reversed. Houts hit two free throws with 8.9 seconds left to make it 49-46. Myia McCurdy hit a jumper to bring Rutgers within one with under 3 seconds left.

April Sykes then intercepted an inbound pass near midcourt, but her 30-foot heave to win at the buzzer clanged off the rim.

Rashidat Junaid led Rutgers (2-2) with 13 points and 11 rebounds.

The game was physical. Georgia’s starting center Angel Robinson left the game on a spine board with 9:02 to play. Robinson was down for several minutes after hitting her head on the floor. The senior complained of neck pain and was put on a spine board and transported to St. Mary’s Hospital as a precautionary measure.

“She bumped her head, a person fell on her leg, I’m not sure the extent of either of those injuries are,” Georgia coach Andy Landers said. “I’m sure they’ll tell me something later.”

Rutgers’ starting point Khadijah Rushdan suffered a knee injury with 3:41 to go.