ATHENS — Georgia’s backcourt has a new look this season: Angela Puleo is starting and Ashley Houts is scoring.
Houts scored 17 points, Puleo added 9 and No. 9 Georgia used a big run starting the second half to win its season opener, 81-53 over Richmond on Friday night.
Georgia, which led 35-23 at halftime, stretched the advantage to 32 points with a 25-4 run in the first 9 minutes of the second half.
Houts, a point guard who was the Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Year last season, added nine rebounds, five steals and four assists.
"What a line she had," Georgia coach Andy Landers said.
Landers also praised the play of Puleo, who hit three 3-pointers.
"As far as understanding what we’re doing as a freshman, we put it in and she understands it and tomorrow she does it," Landers said. "It’s been a while since I’ve had a freshman like that."
Puleo, from Maryville, Tenn., is the daughter of former Atlanta Braves pitcher Charlie Puleo.
Houts is one of three returning starters for Georgia, coming off its fifth straight NCAA Sweet 16 season. In a change from setting up other scorers during her freshman season, Houts had 11 points in the first half and added a 3-point shot and three-point play to help Georgia pull away early in the second half.
Tasha Humphrey, a third-team All-America each of the last two years, had 13 points and nine rebounds for Georgia. Freshman Jasmine Lee had 11 points and nine rebounds.
No. 9 GEORGIA 81, RICHMOND 53
RICHMOND (0-1)
Powell 0-5 0-0 0, Shells 5-10 1-2 13, Thomas 0-2 0-0 0, Campion 2-8 0-1 4, Goring 2-3 1-4 5, Holzer 3-10 4-5 10, McKnight 1-13 1-4 3, Bell 1-3 2-2 5, Kretchman 1-5 6-8 8, Zygaite 0-1 0-1 0, Flynn 2-3 1-1 5. Totals 17-63 16-28 53.
GEORGIA (1-0)
Houts 6-14 3-6 17, Puleo 3-6 0-0 9, Darrah 3-5 0-0 8, Humphrey 6-11 0-3 13, Rowsey 0-1 0-0 0, Moss 1-4 0-0 3, Lee 4-6 3-10 11, Marshall 2-6 2-2 7, Carter 2-4 0-1 4, Robinson 3-5 3-4 9. Totals 30-62 11-26 81.
Halftime—Georgia 35-23. 3-Point Goals—Richmond 3-19 (Shells 2-3, Bell 1-3, Goring 0-1, Zygaite 0-1, Holzer 0-1, Powell 0-2, Campion 0-4, McKnight 0-4), Georgia 10-24 (Puleo 3-6, Darrah 2-3, Houts 2-5, Marshall 1-2, Humphrey 1-4, Moss 1-4). Fouled Out—None. Rebounds—Richmond 42 (Holzer 8), Georgia 52 (Houts, Humphrey, Lee 9). Assists—Richmond 13 (Powell 4), Georgia 21 (Puleo 6). Total Fouls—Richmond 25, Georgia 23. A—4,708.