JACKSON, Mo. -- The Notre Dame girls basketball team knows what it needs to do to be competitive this season, and on Monday night it made sure to do it.
Imposing their gameplan from the start, the fourth-seeded Bulldogs opened up on a 7-0 run and feasted on turnovers to maintain a steady lead and defeat fifth-seeded Poplar Bluff in a SEMO Conference Tournament quarterfinal at Saxony Lutheran High School.
Notre Dame (2-0) finished with 17 steals in the game, with a critical 6-0 run to close out the first quarter fueled by steals.
That swing took the game from a three-point gap to a nine-point differential, and allowed the Bulldogs breathing room the rest of the way.
"(The start) was vital," Notre Dame coach Renee Peters said. "That was one of the things we talked about in pregame. The first three minutes, we have to establish our game. 'Impose your will,' is exactly what I told them to do, and they did a good job."
Poplar Bluff (1-1) was never able to settle in, and never got any closer than seven points during the final three periods of play.
The Mules finished with 27 turnovers, often harassed into chaotic play by Notre Dame. Although both sides had sloppy moments, the Bulldogs more often took advantage of them.
Up 14-11 in the first quarter, Julia Williams took a steal coast to coast for the first of back-to-back buckets during the key run, and Lexi Welter capped the quarter with a steal, a floor-length push and a spin move to the bucket for a 20-11 edge after 8 minutes.
The Bulldogs then opened up the second quarter with consecutive baskets by Riley Burger and were mostly unthreatened the remainder of the game.
Baskets from Shelby Sievers and Doni Everts during a 30-second stretch late in the second quarter pulled Poplar Bluff within seven (30-23), but Welter scored four points to close out the half and carry a 34-23 advantage into the break.
Poplar Bluff's Emma Johnson drained a 3-pointer with 4 minutes, 53 seconds remaining in the third period of play to cut the gap to 10 points, but Notre Dame responded by rolling of a minute-long 6-0 run that stretched the differential again.
The score after three quarters was 50-36.
Notre Dame limited the Mules to just three points in the final 8 minutes as the Bulldogs pulled away.
Welter finished with 19 points, five rebounds, five assists and two steals for Notre Dame. She was 5 of 8 from the floor and 9 of 10 from the free-throw line.
Williams and Burger each added 12 points for the Bulldogs, while Williams had four steals.
Megan Heisserer, who played with two fingers taped together on her left hand, led all players with five steals.
Kiley Bess paced Poplar Bluff with 14 points on 5-of-14 shooting. Everts added eight points, all in the first half, before fouling out with 3:08 left in the game.
Abby Turner led all players with eight rebounds for the Mules, who will face No. 8 Kennett in a consolation semifinal at 4 p.m. today. The Indians fell to top-seeded host Saxony Lutheran 71-22 in a quarterfinal Monday.
Notre Dame advances to challenge the host Crusaders in a semifinal at 7 p.m. today.
Addi Beussink poured in a game-high 19 points as the top-seeded host Crusaders rolled to an easy victory.
Masyn McWilliams scored 13 points for Saxony Lutheran (2-0), which enjoyed a 41-14 lead at halftime and held the Indians to single digits in every frame.
Dakayla Duckworth had eight points to pace Kennett (0-1).
Dexter 87, Sikeston 54
Chaylea Mosby lit up the scoreboard for 36 points, which included seven 3-pointers, to lead the Bearcats. The reigning SEMO Conference Player of the Year had 25 points by halftime, nearly outscoring the Bulldogs as Dexter led 52-26.
Tebrya Benford kept Sikeston in the contest early with 11 of her team-high 27 points coming in the first quarter. The Bulldogs (0-2) trailed 28-20 at buzzer's end, but only managed six points in the second period while Dexter pulled away.
Hannah Thurmon scored 12 for Dexter (2-1) while Maycie Martin and Rylee Allen each added 10.
Jackson 60, Cape Central 29
The Indians scored 10 straight points in the first quarter to pull away.
Kalli Mayfield led all scorers with 15 points on 6-of-14 shooting for Jackson (4-0).
Indians center Alexis Allstun added 13 points and nine rebounds and helped control the paint. Emma Masterson chipped in 10 points for the victors.
Abbie Reece paced Central (1-1) with 12 points. Scarlet Young added six points and seven rebounds.