It wasn’t quite as big of a shocker as last week.

Wednesday, February 06, 2002

It wasn’t quite as big of a shocker as last week.

But it’s doubtful the Rochester John Marshall Rockets expected to leave town with a 19-point loss.

The Albert Lea High School girls’ basketball team, which stunned Owatonna a week earlier, handed JM a 64-45 thrashing in the ALHS gym Tuesday night.

&uot;I don’t think they expected us to beat them, especially after they beat us by nine last time,&uot; said Tigers coach Karol Hansen. &uot;Our attitude is different now. We’re a lot more confident. The girls are learning how to win and they like winning. You’ve got to put up a fight to beat us right now.&uot;

The last time the Tigers beat the Rockets before Tuesday? The 1980-81 season. It was the same streak Mankato East held on the Tigers until they defeated the Cougars earlier this season.

Tuesday’s game was close until the fourth quarter when – unlike the Owatonna game – the Tigers pulled away with free throws. The ALHS girls were 17-for-26 for the night at the line, 23-for-47 from the floor. They outrebounded the Rockets 26-20 and had 19 turnovers to JM’s 21.

Aubree Page’s 17 points and six rebounds led the Tigers. Danielle Jacobs had 10 points, six assists and four rebounds, Jenny Hovendick seven points and three steals, Jenny Vanderploeg six points and seven rebounds, Beth Kolling five points and seven assists. Also scoring: Danielle Rankin seven points, Jess Hanson four, Vanessa Storlie four, Amy Ravenhorst two, Ashley Rankin two.

It was the fourth win in five games for the Tigers, who improved to 8-9 overall and 4-9 in the Big Nine. The Rockets fell to 2-15.

The Tigers play Friday at Faribault.