ATHENS, Ga. (AP) -- Georgia's athletic perimeter trio of Deana Nolan and the Miller twins supplied the points, but Georgia Coach Andy Landers wanted to talk defense after an 83-67 win over Mississippi State (No. 19 ESPN/USA Today; No. 20 AP) on Sunday.

"The first 20 minutes of the game, our defense was spectacular," said Landers of his Lady Bulldogs (No. 2 ESPN/USA Today; No. 3 AP). "We executed what we wanted to execute on defense almost without exception in the first half."

Mississippi State Coach Sharon Fanning readily agreed.

"They limited our number of chances from the field," she said.

The players agreed.

"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), which hit 20 of 21 free throws.

Freshman LaToya Thomas, the SEC's leading scorer, led State (17-4, 6-4 SEC) with 26 points in 25 minutes. Nitra Perry and Jennifer Fambrough added 18 apiece.

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.