On senior night for the Albert Lea High School girls’ basketball team, it was an underclassman that stood out for the Tigers.

Junior Danielle Rankin poured in 18 points in a losing effort Friday as the ALHS girls fell 54-35 to Winona in a Big Nine game at ALHS.

The Tigers, who lost the earlier meeting 43-23 at Winona, finished the regular season 2-16 in the Big Nine and 4-20 overall. Winona ended the regular season winning seven of eight and 11 of its last 13, improving to 11-7 in the conference and 13-8 overall.

Baskets by Rankin and Jenny Hovendick gave the Tigers an early 4-0 lead, but they didn’t score again until the final minute of the first quarter and trailed 19-6 entering the second. Winona was up 30-13 at halftime and 44-23 at the end of the third period.

The Tigers had trouble with the Winhawks’ height and, to complicate matters, the visitors were hot from three-point range.

Rankin was the lone Tiger scorer to reach double figures. Hovendick finished with eight points, Amy Ravenhorst five, Heather Stegenga four, Vanessa Storlie one.

Seniors honored for the Tigers were Hovendick, Ravenhorst, Storlie and Jess Hanson.

The Tigers are scheduled to start section tournament play Tuesday.