South Carolina went on a 26-3 run in the first half en route to a 40-13 lead at the break. Charlotte (6-5) had 15 turnovers in the half and shot just 4-of-23 (17.4 percent).

South Carolina is 11-1, the team's best start since notching a similar record to begin the 1988-89 season.

Charlotte was led by Alicia Abernathy, who scored 10 points, all on free throws. Brandy Patterson added nine points for the 49ers.

South Carolina center Petra Ujhelyi scored 11 points and starting point guard Cristina Ciocan, returning from injury, had a game-high eight assists.

The 49ers chipped at the lead throughout the second half and the 19-point final margin was the closest Charlotte had been since the score was 26-7 with 7:34 left in the first half.

South Carolina plays Florida A&M on Sunday in the Lady Gamecocks last game before starting Southeastern Conference play.

No. 16 Florida 80, Duquesne 71
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) -- Vanessa Hayden had 18 points and nine rebounds, leading all five of Florida's starters in double-figure scoring, as the 16th-ranked Gators beat Duquesne 80-71 Friday night in the State Farm Classic.

Brandi McCain also scored 18 for the Gators (9-3), while Courtney Cooper added 13 points and five rebounds. Monique Cardenas had 12 points, and Tishona Gregory 10 as Florida starters scored 71 points.

Candace Futrell and Shiri Sharon scored 12 points each to lead Duquesne (4-6).

After taking a 12-point halftime lead, Florida went on a 16-4 run to start the second half, starting with a pair of jumpers by Cooper.

Florida will face Kent State in Saturday's championship game.

Iowa State 80, Auburn 75 (OT)
SAN DIEGO (AP) -- Two-time All-American center Angie Welle scored six of her 16 points in overtime as No. 4-ranked Iowa State rallied to beat No. 19 Auburn, 80-75 in a battle of unbeatens Friday in the Surf 'N Slam San Diego Hoop Classic at Jenny Craig Pavilion.

Iowa State (11-0) is off to its best start since beginning the 1995-96 season at 12-0. The Cyclones will play the winner of Friday night's University of San Diego-Texas-San Antonio contest on Sunday in the championship game. Auburn (11-1) will play the loser in the consolation game.

Auburn, which trailed 39-31 at halftime, rallied to take a 61-52 lead on a three-pointer by Lakeisha Johnson with 7:04 left in the second half.

However, Iowa State battled back and tied the game at 69 with 48.5 seconds left on a three-pointer by Melanie Bremer, who scored 14 points in just 14 minutes of play.

With 0.9 seconds left in regulation, Auburn center Tia Miller picked up her fifth foul and left the game with nine points, five rebounds and three assists.

With the 6-foot-2 Miller out of the game, the 6-4 Welle led Iowa State in the overtime winning the tap and scoring on a layup to break the deadlock.

Le'Coe Willingham, who had 13 points for Auburn, tied the game at 73 before Lindsey Wilson drained a three-pointer for Iowa State.

Welle, who came into the game averaging 21.7 points, scored the Cyclones' final four points on free throws.

Joining her in double figures for Iowa State was guard Tracy Gahan, who had 18. Wilson had 17 and Bremer 14.

Carol Smith led Auburn with 18 points while Natasha Brackett had 17 and Johnson 15. Willingham had 13 rebounds to go along with eight points.

Kentucky 59, Southern Mississippi 44
HANOVER, N.H. -- SeSe Helm paced three Wildcats in double figures with a team-high 17 points in Kentucky's 59-44 win over Southern Mississippi in the first round of the Blue Sky Restaurant Group Classic on Friday. With the win, the 'Cats advance to Saturday's championship game.

The scored remained tight most of the game as Kentucky only began to pull away late in the second half. The 'Cats took their biggest lead of 18 (59-41) with only 41 seconds to go in the game. Helping in the effort was senior LaTonya McDole and freshman Sara Potts. McDole, who was held scoreless in the first half, scored all 10 of her points in the second half. She also led the squad in rebounding with seven. Potts nailed three 3-pointers for the third straight time to finish with 11. Junior Rita Adams scored only two points in the contest, but recorded a team-high eight assists and five steals. Helm's 17 points was her 11th straight game to score in double figures.

"I'm proud of the way we hung in the game tonight," UK Coach Bernadette Mattox said. "Southern Miss kept making little runs at us and we remained poised. We need to get better on the boards, but overall I was pleased with our effort."

UK (6-5) opened the contest with a 7-2 advantage, holding the Golden Eagles (6-6) scoreless until the 17:48 mark. Southern Miss would answer with an 8-4 run to pull within one at 11-10. Sophomore Shambrica Jones' turnaround jumper with five minutes left gave the 'Cats their largest lead of the half at eight. UK headed to the locker room at the half with a four-point cushion.

In the second half, Jones' two points once again made it an eight-point game with nine minutes removed from the half. Southern Miss kept fighting, pulling to within five, 43-38 with seven minutes to go. The 'Cats responded with an 8-0 run in the final minutes to seal with win.

UK was outrebounded 48-41 but forced 27 Golden Eagle turnovers compared to only 23 for UK. Southern Miss had two players in double figures, led by Victoria Mason and LaTasha Sumerall with 14 and 10 points, respectively. Forward Sonja Brown pulled down a game-high 11 boards for the Golden Eagles.

The 'Cats, who won the Dartmouth Classic in 1997, are now 68-27 all-time in regular season tournaments.