KENNETT, Mo. -- Kiley Bess scored 32 points and Poplar Bluff overcame early foul trouble to run away in the second half to beat Kennett 55-43 in a SEMO Conference game Thursday night.
The Mules held an opponent to under 50 points for the first time in six games after trailing Kennett 30-27 at halftime.
"We still had our two seniors in foul trouble and another post player in foul trouble," Mules coach John David Pattillo told the Delta Dunklin Democrat said. "But we managed. I thought we did a pretty good job of containing what they were doing.
"It was one of those kind of games. I'm proud of our girls. We haven't been playing well defensively, but we were a lot better tonight than we've been. All in all, it's a pretty good performance from everybody."
The Mules (11-6, 3-0 SEMO) used a 17-5 third-quarter run after Kennett forward Kayton Harris picked up her fourth foul.
Shelby Sievers and Doni Everts each scored four points in the third quarter while Bess led with nine.
Everts, who had three first-half fouls, scored seven of her 11 points before halftime for the Mules while Sievers finished with eight points. Katie Pattillo's four points completed Poplar Bluff's scoring.
Bess is averaging 36.3 points in conference play following her record-setting 50-point performance last week at Sikeston.
Dakayla Duckworth scored six of her team-high 13 points in the second quarter when Kennett turned a 12-11 deficit into a 3-point halftime lead. Kaniya Madlock came off the bench to sink a pair of 3-pointers and two free throws during the run.
Poplar Bluff won the junior varsity game 38-31. Sierra Sievers led with 10 points while Hannah Corcimiglia added seven.
The Mules host Twin Rivers at 4:30 p.m. Saturday then host Naylor and Wednesday before returning to conference play the following day by hosting state-ranked Jackson.