TEMPE, Ariz. — The Georgia Lady Dogs certainly made their lives difficult.

In their first round game in the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament, fifth-seeded Georgia played a mistake-riddled game, but put together enough quality plays to defeat No. 12 Tulane 64-59 at Wells Fargo Arena in Tempe, Ariz., Saturday.

Georgia senior Angel Robinson goes up for two of her season-high 18 points in the Lady Dogs 64-59 NCAA Tourament win over Tulane Saturday. (Photo by STEVE RODRIGUEZ/Arizona State Sports Communications)

After battling a Green Wave (26-7) squad that refused to quit, Georgia (24-8) finally pulled away late in the second half, thanks in large part to Ashley Houts. The senior from Trenton scored 13 of her 22 points in the second half, and went on a personal 5-0 run to give the Dogs a 52-46 lead that they eventually extended to 14 with only 1:46 remaining.

But as they did in the first half, turnovers plagued the Lady Dogs as Tulane cut the lead to five, only to run out of time.

“I think we made some key stops defensively and got some key rebounds and we ran it a couple of times for quick points,” Houts said. “It went back and forth for awhile and it was very uncomfortable. But we were fortunate to move forward.”

The play of forwards Angel Robinson and Porsha Phillips on the defense end, proved especially critical as they blocked a number of Tulane shots, including an emphatic rejection from Robinson with 2:05 left with Georgia holding a 61-48 lead.

Tulane ended the game on a 11-3 run, hitting a couple of 3-pointers but it was too little too late as Georgia advanced to the second round where it will face No. 4 Oklahoma State Monday at 7:30 EST.

“I’m real thankful and appreciative I have [Ashley Houts and Angel Robinson] sitting here next to me,” Georgia head coach Andy Landers said at the post-game news conference. “I thought our entire team played well, but I felt all year that out basketball team, with as many young kids as we have, as got to be lead and carried to some extent by our veteran players and they did that tonight.”

Houts and Robinson — who scored a season-high 18 points — were the only Lady Dogs in double-figures and accounted for 62.5 percent of Georgia’s offense.

“They are our two seniors and they are in their last NCAA Tournament and we want them to go out on a good note,” said freshman Jasmine James. “They both definitely brought it today and showed they weren’t ready to go home and ready for their careers to be over. They did a really good job and if they hadn’t played the way we did, we wouldn’t have been able to pull out this win. They did an amazing job.”

Turnovers plagued Georgia all night, as it committed 23 for the game, with James committing a team high of 8.

“I think Jazz was going for a NCAA record of turnovers in a game,” Landers joked. “We are a young basketball team and our bench is somewhat limited with injuries and inexperience. Jazz is gonna make some mistakes but she is going to make some plays. She is a good defender and she makes game-winning shots.”

Landers said he never considered benching the freshman point guard, which in turn, instilled a lot of self-confidence in James.

“I feel like we did a good job of taking care of the ball when we really needed to, but there were a lot of turnovers that we need to work on. It’s definitely a confidence booster to have him still leave us in the game.”

The Lady Dogs jumped out to a fast 10-0 lead in the first half as Tulane missed its first six shots of the game, and eventually built the lead to 16-4. But turnovers allowed the feisty Green Wave back into the game and took their first lead of the game, 23-22, with 4:10 left in the half.

Georgia maintained its composure and went to the break holding a slim 27-24 edge, with Robinson (11 points) and Houts (9) leading the offensive charge.