The true test of a team's strength?

	LaToya Thomas ranks second in the country in scoring, but Tan White and MSU notched a win without her on Saturday.

The ability to win without one of its stars, as Duke did in its season opener against then-No. 2 Tennessee after losing Monique Currie to a torn ACL just a week earlier.

But how about winning without the star? That's exactly what Mississippi State did Saturday. Against Illinois in Chicago's United Center, the Lady Bulldogs got 23 points from their bench in a 72-67 win without senior LaToya Thomas, a three-time Kodak All-American who missed the game because of a death in the family.

The victory made a big impression with Mississippi State coach Sharon Fanning.

"This was the biggest team win since I have been coaching," said Fanning, who started two freshmen and two sophomores. "I am so proud of them for pulling together."

Sophomore Tan White led all scorers with 19 points, and also tallied eight rebounds and a season-high six steals.

Freshman Doceide Warren went 5-for-6 from the field to score 15 points off the bench in her Mississippi State debut. Mamie McKinney, who started in place of Thomas, added 10 points.

Fanning wasn't the only one who was impressed. The Lady Bulldogs moved up two spots to No. 14 in Monday's Associated Press Top 25, and will likely climb a bit in this week's ESPN/USA Today coaches poll, which will be released Tuesday afternoon.

Mississippi State, which is 6-1 this season, has won three consecutive games on the road, and closes out 2002 with four additional games away from home. And Thomas is expected back for this week's road trip to Orlando.

Said Fanning: "We are learning to be road warriors."

With or without Thomas.

Hot ticket
In four home games this season, Duke has put in scoring performances of 108, 128, 82 and 106 points, shooting better than 53 percent in each game.

Add in the fact the Blue Devils are unbeaten, ranked No. 1 for the sixth time in as many weeks and feature junior all-everything Alana Beard, who has scored at 20 points in six of eight games, and it's no wonder the Blue Devils are packing the house.

Duke has more than doubled its season-ticket sales this season, setting an all-time high with 3,302. The previous high, set last season, was 1,297. Season-ticket sales at Duke have increased for five consecutive seasons.

A-10 is A-OK
For all the users who wrote in to point out that George Washington routed BYU, which received major props from the Dish last time out, we noticed. How could we not?

After all, the Colonials won by 24 points in the Dec. 11 game, and got a huge night from Ugo Oha, who poured in 25 points as 24th-ranked George Washington improved to 4-1 with the win over the then-No. 22 ranked Cougars.

The Colonials moved up to No. 21 in this week's AP poll. Check back later this week, when ESPN.com's Mechelle Voepel gives the A-10 its due in her weekly column.

User comment of the week
From Lucas in Minneapolis: "I hate to say this but I am a typical guy when it comes to women's basketball. I don't think they can play. Boy, was I wrong. I had a chance to see the Gophers play tonight and was amazed by Lindsey Whalen. She has amazing eyes and sees the game like no other player. She only played 24 minutes but scored 21 points. We didn't see much of her in the second half. I think the gophers and Whalen are underrated. Give them more exposure. I know their schedule isn't that hard yet. Go to a game and watch Whalen and you'll be surprised. I think she is playing better than anyone, including some guy players."

GET TO KNOW THE NAME You should already know it, actually, since Tulsa's Allison Curtin was a two-time All-Big Ten pick before leaving Illinois. But in her first season at Tulsa, the 5-11 senior guard is tearing it up. On Saturday, Curtin scored 34 points to set the school's single-game record. She has scored at least 30 points in nine games so far this season.

SPEAK OF THE WEEK Charleston Southern coach Stephanie Yelton on Alana Beard, who scored 24 points on 10-for-11 shooting with six steals in just 16 minutes in a win over Yelton's squad Monday: "Beard is the best player that has played in the ACC. She has the speed and quickness of Marion Jones but the skill level of, if not beyond, that of Dawn Staley."

NOTABLE NUMBER 60 This time last year, Atlantic 10 teams were 39-60 in nonconference games. But this season, A-10 teams already combine for a 60-25 nonconference record. Ten of the league's 12 teams boast winning records. This time last year, only four were above .500.

Melanie Jackson coordinates ESPN.com's women's college basketball coverage. Click here to e-mail the Dish with any story ideas, suggestions or feedback.