Last season when the Albert Lea girls’ basketball team opened with Waseca it wasn’t pretty — the Tigers lost by 21 points — but this season it was a much more competitive game.

Albert Lea lost 59-57 Tuesday in Waseca and had a chance to tie the game late, but an 8-foot baseline jumper from Abbey Arends missed.

The Tigers held an eight-point lead at halftime and continued to hold a lead through the first eight minutes of the second half, but the Bluejays were able to pull away late.

Lexi Ulfers led Waseca with 18 points and Kelly Loonan added 15.

Arends led Albert Lea with a game-high 27 points on 9 of 17 shooting. Arends also had seven rebounds, four assists, two blocked shots and three steals.

Morgan Stadheim added 13 points and 14 rebounds and was the only other Tiger in double figures.

One of the differences in the game for head coach Sean Gillam was field goal shooting percentages. Albert Lea shot 30 percent from the field and just 19 percent in the second half while the Bluejays shot 39 percent for the game.

The Tigers play Northfield Thursday in Albert Lea.

Waseca 59, Albert Lea 57

Albert Lea 31 26 — 57

Waseca 23 36 — 59

Albert Lea scoring: Abbey Arends 27, Morgan Stadheim 13, Mikaela Pierson 8, Skyler Anderson 4, Lana Howe 3, Sarah Wenum 2.

Waseca scoring: Lexi Ulfers 18, Kelly Loonan 15, Caitlin Whitney 12, Tessa Krueger 8, Danni Collins 2, Hannah Hayes 2, Hannah McRaith 2.