ROCHESTER &045; In a battle of first vs. last in Big Nine girls’ basketball, it was tough to tell which team was where at the end of the first quarter.

Unfortunately for the Albert Lea Tigers, it didn’t hold up.

Albert Lea took an 8-3 advantage after one quarter on conference-leading Rochester John Marshall but went on to lose 49-31 at Rochester Tuesday night.

&uot;The biggest factor was we didn’t take care of the basketball,&uot; said Tigers coach Karol Hansen.

&uot;We had 17 turnovers in the first half, most of them in the second quarter when they pressed us and we panicked.&uot;

The Rockets went on to lead 19-14 at halftime and 30-21 after three quarters.

Individual leaders for the Tigers: Jenny Hovendick eight points, three rebounds, three assists; Amy Ravenhorst nine points, four rebounds, three steals; Jess Hanson five points, two rebounds, three assists; Danielle Rankin seven rebounds, two steals, two assists; Ashley Helgerson five points; Heather Stegenga two points, two rebounds, two steals; Amber Edwards seven rebounds; Katie Stenseth two rebounds, two steals.

JM improved to 10-2 in the Big Nine and 12-6 overall. The Tigers, 1-11 and 3-14, host Faribault Friday.