Nash’s 3-pointer with 1.7 seconds left lifts No. 13 Texas over Rutgers

Nash’s 3-pointer lifts No. 13 Texas over Rutgers

ST. THOMAS, Virgin Islands — Kathleen Nash’s 3-pointer with 1.7 seconds left lifted No. 13 Texas to a 70-67 victory over Rutgers on Saturday night in the Paradise Jam.

Texas led by 12 early in the second half before Rutgers rallied. Brittany Ray, who was the tournament’s MVP, hit a layup with 7.6 seconds left to tie the game at 67 before Nash connected on a 3-pointer from the corner to give Texas the victory.

“I’m so proud of this team tonight,” Texas coach Gail Goestenkors said. “We started off strong, and I was pleased with the way we competed. We could have closed it out by hitting a few more free throws earlier in the game, but we played a really great team down to the final possession.”

Ray finished with 17 points and Monique Oliver added 13 points and nine rebounds for Rutgers (3-3). Khadijah Rushdan, who injured her knee against Georgia on Nov. 22, played for the first time since then and scored eight points.

“This one is real tough,” Rutgers coach C. Vivian Stringer said. “It’s much easier to lose by 15 than one (point) and one at the buzzer. We had a go at it and just didn’t get it done.”

Brittainey Raven led Texas (4-2) with 15 points. Ashleigh Fontenette added 12.

Texas had a three-point lead at the half and extended it to 47-35 with a 15-6 spurt to open the second half. Rutgers scored the next 13 points to take a 48-47 lead with 9 minutes left. The teams traded baskets with neither gaining more than a four-point advantage before Texas held a 66-64 lead with 33 seconds left.

After Chelsey Lee hit one free throw for the Scarlet Knights, Fontenette made one for Texas with 18.3 seconds left.

“Brittainey played really well down the stretch for us, and Kat was clutch at the very end. I’m just really happy for this team tonight,” Goestenkors added.