"We played good help defense," Coco Miller said. "We had a couple of people to play hurt and step it up."
That included sophomore center Tawana McDonald, normally a starter, who came off the bench with eight timely points in 13 minutes. She always seemed to score when State was poised to mount a rally.
Nolan scored 19 points. Coco Miller had 18 points and sister Kelly 17 respectively for Georgia (23-2, 8-1 Southeastern Conference), which hit 20 of 21 free throws.
Freshman LaToya Thomas, the SEC's leading scorer, led Mississippi State (17-4, 6-4 SEC) with 26 points in 25 minutes. Nitra Perry scored 18, and Jennifer Fambrough also had 18.
Landers cited junior college transfers Shala Crawford and Tiaunna Briggans for their defense. Crawford started for McDonald.
"They played really, really well today," he said. "In the first half, they did a phenomenal job. They're starting to contribute really well. That's what I've been telling people all year. When they start to get everything down, they're really going to contribute this season." Kelly Miller moved into ninth on the Georgia career scoring list, passing Lisa O'Connor, who scored 1,509 points in 1982-86.
Miller has 1,517 now. She also tied Rachel Powell for third on the assist list with 436.
In other top 25 games:
TENNESSEE 65, ALABAMA 47
At Tennessee, Semeka Randall scored 19 points and Kara Lawson added 13 to lead the No. 4 Volunteers (19-3, 7-1 Southeastern Conference) past Alabama (13-8, 3-5). The Crimson Tide, who trailed by 22 points early in the second half, rallied to within 14 points on Leigh Papisan's basket with 8:50 left in the game. But Tennessee used an 11-2 run to regain control at 58-35 with 4:35 left.
PENN ST. 57, WISCONSIN 52
At Wisconsin, Andrea Garner scored 15 points and Helen Darling added 14 to lead No. 6 Penn State (19-3, 10-1 Big Ten) over the Badgers (11-9, 5-6). Penn State also got 11 points and nine rebounds from Maren Walseth and 10 points from Lisa Shepherd.
RUTGERS 77, SYRACUSE 41
At Rutgers, Carlita Washington, replacing injured guard Tasha Pointer (sprained ankle), had 19 points and six rebounds as the No. 10 Scarlet Knights (15-4, 7-2 Big East) beat Syracuse (8-11, 1-7). The win was the fourth straight for Rutgers.
NC STATE 72, FLA. STATE 62
At North Carolina State, Monica Bates scored 17 points as the No. 11 Wolfpack (18-4, 9-2 Atlantic Coast Conference) beat Florida State (9-12, 2-8), despite playing without injured center Summer Erb.
UCSB 104, CAL-FULLERTON 64
At Cal-Santa Barbara, Kristi Rohr scored 25 points and grabbed 10 rebounds as the No. 13 Gauchos (19-3, 7-0 Big West Conference) beat Cal State-Fullerton (2-18, 1-7).
OLD DOM. 88, G. MASON 65
At Old Dominion, Lucienne Berthieu had 20 points and 14 rebounds as the No. 16 Monarchs (16-4, 9-0 Colonial Athletic Association) beat George Mason (7-13, 3-6).
ARIZONA 65, OREGON ST. 49
At Oregon State, Elizabeth Pickney had 17 points and 11 rebounds, lifting No. 19 Arizona (18-9, 7-2 Pac 10 ) past the Beavers (9-12, 5-4).
