At halftime, the Albert Lea High School girls’ basketball team had the lead and the momentum.

The Tigers eventually got back the momentum. They never could regain the lead.

Visiting Waseca went on a 15-0 run in the third quarter and held off a furious rally to hand the Tigers a 44-42 nonconference loss in their season opener at ALHS Tuesday night.

While impressed with the comeback, Tigers coach Karol Hansen was disappointed with her team’s inability to put the ball in the basket in the third period.

&uot;We’ve just got to play four quarters,&uot; said Hansen. &uot;That third quarter just killed us. We went into it up by two points and ended it trailing by 13. They switched defenses on us and I don’t think we adjusted as well as we could have. Overall, we’ve just got to shoot better.&uot;

The Tigers fell behind early, trailing 8-2 at the midway point and 10-5 with less than a minute remaining, but a pair of baskets by Jenny Hovendick pulled them within 10-9.

Jess Hanson hit a three-pointer to open the second quarter and, after a turnover, another Hansen hoop and a pair of Amy Ravenhorst free throws put Albert Lea up 17-10. But the Bluejays, helped by a three-point basket from Rachel Stensrud, answered, and Waseca led 25-23 at halftime.

The Tigers were shut out in the third quarter, missing all 11 of their field goal attempts.

Hovendick sparked the fourth-quarter rally, sinking a field goal and a three-pointer to make it 38-30. Baskets by Ravenhorst and Hovendick pulled Albert Lea within 38-34, but that’s as close as it would get until the final minute.

Hovendick hit a basket with 43 seconds left, making it 44-39, and Danielle Rankin quickly stole the ball and got it back to Hovendick, who nailed a three-pointer.

Hovendick had a last-second shot that was partially blocked but no foul was called.

Hovendick led all scorers with 19 points. Hanson had 11, Ravenhorst seven, Katie Dooley two, Katie Stenseth two, Amber Edwards one.

The Tigers open Big Nine play Friday at home against Rochester Century.