ATHENS, Ga. -- Senior Ashley Houts made the most of her new backcourt help and Georgia recovered after losing a 13-point lead in a game which showed Oklahoma how much it misses Courtney Paris.
Porsha Phillips and Jasmine James each scored 15 points and No. 21 Georgia held off No. 13 Oklahoma's second-half comeback for a 62-51 victory Sunday.
Georgia led by 13 points early in the second half only to see Oklahoma pull even at 43 with 6:48 remaining. The Lady Bulldogs (1-0) regained the lead on Meredith Mitchell's three-point play.
Oklahoma (1-1), a Final Four team last season, never led against its first Top 25 opponent since the end of the Courtney Paris era. The Sooners have to replace Paris, the NCAA's all-time rebounding leader, and her sister, Ashley.
"We knew Georgia had a fantastic inside game and we knew we were going to have to make open shots," said Oklahoma coach Sherri Coale. "We got the opportunity but our shooting percentage was dismal."
Oklahoma fell behind by shooting 23.5 percent (8 of 34) from the field in the first half. It shot 34.4 percent for the game.
Whitney Hand led Oklahoma with 13 points, while Abi Olajuwon had 10 points and nine rebounds.
James, a freshman from Memphis, did not start but played 34 minutes with Houts, who is beginning her fourth year as a starter.
"The reason J.J. is on the floor longer than the other (freshmen) is she has an ability set similar to Ashley's," said Georgia coach Andy Landers. "To have J.J. out there with her really changes the game for Ashley."
Houts, who had 11 points, three steals and two assists while playing the full 40 minutes.
The game matched the point guards -- Houts and Oklahoma's Danielle Robinson -- who shared the position for the U.S. National team which won the gold medal at the World University Games last summer. Robinson had nine points and eight assists.
"I thought Ashley Houts did a tremendous job, managing the game for Georgia and running her team, leading, scoring when she needed to, making the plays that great players make," Coale said.
Amanda Thompson had eight points, 13 rebounds and three blocks for Oklahoma.
"Thompson for us did a tremendous job battling on the inside," Coale said. "She was terrific on the boards and did just what we asked her to do."
Georgia has played in five Final Fours under Landers, but none since 1999.
"We've been focusing this year really on change and getting back to where the program needs to be," Houts said.
Georgia finished only 18-14 last season and was unranked following a first-round loss to Arizona State in the NCAA tournament.
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