ROCHESTER &045; The final score may not look like it, but the Albert Lea High School girls’ basketball team made more progress at Rochester Mayo Saturday night.

&uot;Considering it was 64-32 the last time we played them, and we were never in the game, yes, it was an improvement,&uot; said coach Karol Hansen, whose Tigers fell 55-40 this time.

Hansen, whose squad fell to 2-15 in the Big Nine and 4-19 overall, was encouraged because the Tigers played well without their two tallest players, who are vacationing with family, against a physical Mayo team that relies on its inside game.

But the biggest encouragement came after the final buzzer.

&uot;In all the years I’ve been coaching in the Big Nine, it’s the first time (Mayo coach) Les Cookman has given credit to the Albert Lea girls for their effort on the court,&uot; said Hansen. &uot;They didn’t quit, they didn’t give up, they didn’t go away. Our kids just played their hearts out, again. Mayo was just faster than us up and down the court. They’re a very athletic basketball team.&uot;

The Spartans, 12-5 in the Big Nine and 16-7 overall, led 13-6, 35-15 and 45-27 at the breaks.

Danielle Rankin scored 20 points for the Tigers. Jess Hanson scored seven, Jenny Hovendick six, Amy Ravenhorst four, Vanessa Storlie three. Hovendick also had five steals and Ravenhorst had five rebounds.

The Tigers travel to Austin tonight and host Winona Friday for parents night.