No. 22 Rutgers women pull away late, beat Penn State 76-65

Feb 1, 2015, 02:30 pm

PISCATAWAY, N.J. -- Kahleah Copper scored 25 points and Tyler Scaife added 21 to help No. 22 Rutgers beat Penn State 76-65 on Sunday for its fourth consecutive win.

It was Copper's sixth 20-plus point game this season.

Betnijah Laney recorded her 14th straight double-double with 16 points and 14 boards for Rutgers (16-5, 7-3 Big Ten).

Rutgers led by as many as 11 in the first half, but Penn State's zone defense caused problems early in the second half and the Nittany Lions used a 19-5 spurt to take a 47-42 lead.

Rutgers started the second half shooting 2 of 16 from the field. Scaife's baseline jumper ended Rutgers' 5-plus minute scoreless drought to cut the deficit to 47-44. Later, the Scarlet Knights' press defense sparked a 14-6 run, started and capped by Copper's three-point plays, to take a 62-54 lead.

Lindsey Spann led Penn State (5-17, 2-9) with 16 points.