JACKSON, Mo. — McKenna Morrow’s 3-pointer midway through the fourth quarter broke a tie and extended Poplar Bluff’s game-changing run Monday night.
The Mules put together a 10-1 swing in the fourth then held on with steals to win 39-36 at Saxony Lutheran in a SEMO Conference game.
Madelyn Eads scored a season-high 28 points with 11 in the fourth quarter. The junior sank 7 of 8 free throws, including her final six late.
However the Mules made just 1 of 8 foul shots in the final 65 seconds and finished 9 of 22 at the line.
Poplar Bluff (6-11, 2-2 SEMO) won consecutive games eight days apart and will host Jackson on Tuesday.
Saxony Lutheran (7-12, 1-3) scored the first eight points of the second half to pull ahead.
Morrow, coming off a season-best 13-point performance in Poplar Bluff’s win at New Madrid County Central, added nine points. The senior’s 3-pointer with 4:05 left broke a 31-all tie.
Eads then came away with a defensive rebound, weaved through traffic and scored to put the Mules up 36-31.
Emma Dunning’s 3-pointer pulled Saxony within 36-34 at the 2:40 markbut Mikalla Little got a steal leading to a pair of free throws by Eads with 1:25 remaining.
Clara Rahlmann got a steal but the Mules missed a pair of free throws. Little had another steal but Poplar Bluff again came up empty at the foul line.
Clara Brune, who had nine points, sank a pair of foul shots with 12 seconds left to make it a three-point game. Saxony got the ball back with 5.9 remaining after two missed foul shots by Poplar Bluff, but a long pass to the sideline was knocked out of bounds with less than a second to go.
The Mules overcame a 34% shooting night from the field that included a 6 for 15 performance from the 3-point line by forcing 24 turnovers.
The teams traded the lead seven times in the first half and there were six ties.
Saxony led 9-7 at the start of the second half but Eads scored the next five points. The Mules led 20-18 at halftime but Brune started the third quarter with consecutive baskets in the paint. Brune’s drive from the high post put Saxony up 26-20 before Eads sank a long 3-pointer at the 5:25 mark for Poplar Bluff’s first points of the half.
Saxony led 28-24 at the start of the fourth while Emma Voelker’s layin pushed the margin to four with 6:45 remaining.
Eads was left open for a game-tying 3-pointer at the 4:55 mark.