Fitzgerald, Faribault top ALHS girls 56-45
Published 12:00 am Saturday, December 14, 2002
FARIBAULT &045; The Faribault Falcons may not be quite as talented as they were last season, but they’re still just as big.
And that caused some big problems for the Albert Lea High School girls’ basketball team.
The Tigers could not contain Rebecca Fitzgerald, the Falcons’ solidly-built 6-foot-1 center, who scored 27 points in a 56-45 Albert Lea loss at Faribault Friday night.
&uot;She was the story of the game,&uot; said Tigers coach Karol Hansen. &uot;We just did not have a way to counter her on the court tonight. She’s just a physical presence.&uot;
The defending Big Nine champs took control early, leading 17-8 after one quarter and 29-19 at halftime. They led by as many as 20 in the third quarter, taking a 44-29 advantage into the fourth.
While Hansen said the Tigers reduced their turnovers from previous games, she said their shooting still needs to improve. They also faced another big deficit at the free-throw line, where they were 3-for-5 while Faribault went 10-for-15.
&uot;Defensively, the girls are playing much better,&uot; said Hansen. &uot;We’re getting balanced team play on both ends of the court, which is why we’re playing much more competitive with our opponents.&uot;
Danielle Rankin’s 17 points led the Tigers. Jenny Hovendick and Amy Raven-horst scored nine, Jess Hanson six, Amber Edwards two, Ashley Helgerson two. Rankin and Edwards were the top rebounds. Hovendick and Hanson each had five assists.
The Tigers host New Ulm Tuesday for parents night, looking for their first win.