The Albert Lea girls’ basketball team once again won the turnover battle Tuesday but couldn’t keep up with the hot-shooting Rochester Mayo Spartans, and lost 63-39 at Albert Lea High School.

The Tigers (1-3, 1-1 Big Nine) kept the game close for much of the first half and trailed 34-25 at halftime. But the Spartans (3-1, 2-0) shot 52 percent in the second half and outscored the Tigers 29-14.

Both teams struggled from the free throw line as the Spartans shot 6-of-20 and the Tigers shot 8-of-17, but the biggest difference in the game was field goal shooting as Mayo shot 46.7 percent and Albert Lea just 23.8 percent.

Bryn Woodside led the Tigers with 12 points and three rebounds.

Alyssa Sager, who fouled out late in the second half, chipped in nine points and a game-high six steals.

The Spartans had a noticeable height advantage and outrebounded the Tigers 51-42 and scored 19 second chance points.

“Height wouldn’t have been as big of a problem if we hadn’t gotten into foul trouble,” Tigers head coach Sean Gillam.

Albert Lea plays again at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Mankato West (0-4, 0-2).