Foul trouble and miscues proved costly for the St. Albert girls as they fell at home 61-56 to Blair, Neb., in a non-conference basketball game Thursday.

Blair sank as many free throws (23) as the Saintes attempted overall, and St. Albert also gave up some easy baskets due to defensive mistakes.

"We got into holes because of some defensive breakdowns, and we have some girls who aren't running the offense too ... we need to get that down," St. Albert coach Tom Heithoff said. "When we do things right we look pretty good, but then we stub our toe about three times in a row and we have to fight back."

The free throws may have been what proved most costly for the Saintes, however.

"We put them on the line and they made the shots," Heithoff said. "That's really what took care of the game, we had twice as many fouls as them.

"I really felt that if we would have played better defense as a team, we would have won this game."

A rough second quarter didn't help any either.

After playing to a 12-12 tie in the opening frame, the Saintes struggled in the second, giving up a 12-0 run - all on 3-pointers - to Blair as the Bears took a nine-point lead into halftime.

Blair used a balanced offensive showing en route to the win; with seven players scoring at least five points each.

Aileen Mooney led the way for the Saintes, racking up 19 points to go with nine rebounds.

"Aileen actually struggled a little in the first half with her shooting," Heithoff said. "But we started isolating her in the second half and she went to war on them."

Amy Ryan added eight points and seven boards for the Saintes, Gina Assmann dished out five assists to go with eight points and Krista Kennebeck finished with nine points.

The Saintes are on the road at Tri-Center Tuesday.

"We've been in pretty much every game this season, the problem has been that we make a lot of mistakes," Heithoff said. "But, I'm proud of these kids, and I think they have a lot of potential ... we just need to work some things out."

Blair 12 19 13 17 - 61

St. Albert 12 10 17 17 - 56

Blair: Gutschow 7, Hodgsen 5, Kenealy 5, Barkley 10, Osborn 0, Jonssen 8, Sonderup 1, Rasmussen 0, Keck 17, Pawel 2, Gengenbach 6.

St. Albert: Krista Kennebeck 9, Melanie Hilderbrand 1, Kelsey Knutson 4, Gina Assmann 8 (5a), Amy Ryan 8 (7r), Becky Assmann 1, Lauren Doll 0, Allison Mooney 0, Becca Gradoville 4, Aileen Mooney 19 (9r), Trevour Yates 2, Morgan Wickersham 0.

Records: Blair (2-2), St. Albert (1-4).

Daily Nonpareil - 12.16.05