Mules Rally In Fourth To Upend Undefeated Salem Wildcats

The Salem Lady Wildcats came into he Mule Barn Monday night with a 4-0 record and fresh off a tournament win in the Du Quoin Classic. They left the Mule Barn Monday with a 4-1 record and fresh off a 38-29 loss to Tonya Conrad’s Fairfield Lady Mules.

Fairfield got 29 points and nine rebounds from senior star Rylee Edwards, who matched the Wildcats’ scoring total by herself. She did much of her damage at the free throw line, where she went 15-of-21.

Despite Edwards’ prolific production, Salem went into the fourth quarter with a 27-21 lead, but managed just two free throws in the final frame, getting outscored by the home team, 17-2.

The first quarter was tightly played, with Salem taking a 7-5 lead at the first stop. The Lady Mules had a scary moment as well, with Lily Simpson going down with a knee injury less than three minutes into the game. Simpson is coming off a knee injury that cost her much of last season as well.

Edwards scored five straight points to open the second quarter and give Fairfield a 10-7 lead just before Salem coach Megan Kessler drew a technical foul, after earlier chirping at the Fairfield crowd. Conrad sent Edwards to the line for the technical free throws. She knocked both down, then scored on the next possession to give her a personal 10-0 run and give Fairfield a 14-7 lead.

They would not hold that lead however, getting outscored 9-2 to close out the second quarter tied at 16.

Fairfield scored just five more points in the third quarter, including an early deuce by Mabrey Foster for an 18-6 lead. Salem followed with a 7-0 run that was broken up by a three from Cori Sutton. It was Fairfield’s only made three of the game as they went 1-of-9 from deep.

Trailing 27-21 going into the final frame, Edwards took over, getting to the line often. She hit three early free throws before Salem got one. Fairfield tied the game at 28 , then went up 32-28 as Edwards scored eight straight points. That run was broken when teammate Mabry Ellis hit a free throw. Salem did not score again until getting a free throw with less than a minute to go, as Fairfield scored 10 straight points.

Neither team shot well from the field, with Fairfield shooting a 28.4 effective field goal percentage, with Salem at 30.3. Fairfield outscored Salem 17-9 at the free throw line, won the rebounding war 30-23 and forced 19 Salem turnovers.

Edwards’ 29 points gives her 959 for her career, meaning she is likely to surpass the 1,000-point mark this weekend in the Robinson Thanksgiving Tournament, where Fairfield will play four games.

Kayla Felgenhauer led Salem with 12 points, while Emma Gregg had 10.

Fairfield improved to 2-1 with the win.

Fairfield won the jayvee game in overtime, 41-34. Foster had 19 points and Remi Taylor had 13.

Fairfield 38, Salem 29

               2s            3s            FTA         FTM        TP

Fairfield

Mellis     1              0              2              1              3

Edwards             7              0              21           15           29

Foster    1              0              2              0              2

Sutton    0              1              0              0              3

Gacek     0              0              2              1              1

Rebounds (Off-Def-Tot)—Rylee Edwards 3-6-9, Mabrey Foster 1-3-4, Dalanie Ellis 2-2-4, Myra Copeland 1-2-3, Mabry Ellis 1-2-3, Lily Gacek 0-2-2, Kinley Poole 0-1-1, Total 11-19-30.

Turnovers—16.

Assists—M. Ellis 3, Copeland 1, Gacek 1.

Steals—Copeland 3, M. Ellis 3, Cori Sutton 2, D. Ellis 1, Edwards 1.

Salem

Felgenhauer      2              1              6              5              12

Lee         0              0              2              1              1

Gregg      1              2              6              2              10

Kessler               1              0              0              0              2

Johnson              0              0              4              1              1

Burge     0              1              0              0              3

Rebounds—Jordan Kessler 0-7-7, Emma Gregg 3-3-6, Hannah Smith 0-2-2, Marah Johnson 0-2-2, Kayla Felgenhauer 1-1-2, Kale Benjamin 1-0-1, Natalie Lee 0-1-1, Ivy Donoho 0-1-1, Total 6-17-23.

Turnovers—19.

Assists—Benjamin 2, Kessler 2, Gregg 1, Felgenhauer 1, Donoho 1.

Steals—Smith 1, Kessler 1, Gregg 1, Felgenhauer 1, Donoho 1.

Blocks—Kessler 1, Felgenhauer 1.