Copper scores 22 to lead No. 24 Rutgers women over SMU 68-49 in AAC quarterfinals

Rutgers' Tyler Scaife, right, shoots over SMU's Mallory Singleton, left, during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the quarterfinals of the American Athletic Conference women's basketball tournament Saturday, March 8, 2014, in Uncasville, Conn. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill) (The Associated Press)

SMU head coach Rhonda Rompola gestures to her team of an NCAA college basketball game against Rutgers in the quarterfinals of the American Athletic Conference women's basketball tournament Saturday, March 8, 2014, in Uncasville, Conn. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill) (The Associated Press)

Kahleah Copper scored 22 points and Tyler Scaife added 18 to help No. 24 Rutgers rally to beat SMU 68-49 on Saturday in the American Athletic Conference quarterfinals.

Trailing 35-31 early in the second half, the Scarlet Knights (22-8) went on a 18-4 run to take control. Scaife had six points and Copper had five during the spurt.

Scaife's two free throws made it 49-39 with 8:20 left in the game. SMU couldn't get closer than seven the rest of the way.

The Scarlet Knights will play the winner of Connecticut and Cincinnati in the semifinals on Sunday afternoon.

Keena Mays scored 23 points to lead SMU (17-13). She helped the Mustangs build a 30-24 halftime lead hitting five 3-pointers in the first half. SMU scored the first five points before Rutgers went on a 16-0 run. Then Mays took over as the Mustangs outscored the Scarlet Knights 25-8.