By Michael Letendre
MERIDEN – The return of Leah Roy to the Bristol Eastern girls basketball team was a welcomed sight on Friday night.
Roy, fully recovered from her ACL tear, was a familiar sight in the starting lineup – returning for the squad’s eleventh game of the season.
And Roy helped the Kingstreeters win in a romp, flipping the Spartans in a 48-19 push from Francis T. Maloney High School in Meriden.
Eastern improved to 9-2 overall while Maloney, in a bit of a youth movement, fell to 1-8.
Roy’s debut saw the senior rack up four points, eight rebounds and three steals over a busy first game return.
Her insertion back into the lineup gives the Lancers added depth but also gave a couple freshmen competitors tons of experience via on-court play before Roy was cleared to resume play.
Or course, all the usual suspects hit the hardwood with zest for the Lancers in Meriden.
Autumn Udoh had another tremendous showing, just three steals shy of a triple double.
She dropped in a game-high 19 points to go along with 12 rebounds, five blocked shots and seven steals as Udoh dominated play.
Amanda Noel chipped in eight points, six rebounds, a couple blocks and four steals while Lauren Ayotte – who apparently enjoys playing in Meriden – added seven points and four rebounds.
Vanessa Drury hit a hoop but also had a 10-assist outing while stealing the ball five times as she played well on both sides of the ball.
Off the pine, Cassie Sward had three points and three steals, Savannah Drury hit a 3, Natalia added a bucket while Alaina Joy added two rebounds.
Jenna Azab, Emily Zurowski and Rabiatu Bah all saw action for the Kingstreeters that evening.
Maloney center Amaya McNeil (13 points) caused some havoc with her rebounding and shot blocking but it was Eastern’s team defense that stole the show.
The Spartans missed 26-of-34 field goals, failed to hit a 3 and was in a 10-0 hole before finally getting on the scoreboard.
It was all catch-up from there.
Roy hit her first hoop, off an offensive rebound and put-back, with 4:57 to play in the first period and when Vanessa Drury found Udoh for a jumper to end the frame, the Lancers were in front 12-2.
The edge was stretched to 16-2 off free throws by Sward and Ayotte and between baskets from McNeil, Eastern was still in complete control.
Savannah Drury drained a baseline 3, Roy canned a jumper and when Noel grabbed a rebound and put it back, the Kingsteeters were in complete control at 23-4 with 1:14 remaining before the half.
A lay-up by McNeil trimmed the deficit to 14 early in the third tilt but it was all Eastern from there off the power of a 10-2 run.
The jaunt was swiftly put out of reach when Noel found Ayotte for a foul line jumper and with 2:13 showing ion the clock in the third, the Lancers lead was twenty-two points (33-11).
Leading 35-13 with eight minutes to play, Udoh hit a hoop, Vanessa Drury put back a miss and when Drury found Ayotte for a hoop and later Udoh for a blistering three-pointer with 4:54 to play, Eastern was ahead by twenty-nine points (44-15) with just over two minutes left.
To end the game, Sward dropped in a layup and when Vye ended the scoring with a put-back bucket, Eastern nabbed a huge 48-19 victory with Bristol Central on tap next Tuesday.
Bristol Eastern Girls Basketball – CCC South Encounter
BRISTOL EASTERN 48, MALONEY 19
from Francis T. Maloney High School, Bristol
Bristol Eastern (9-2) 12 11 12 13 – 48
Maloney (1-8) 2 5 6 6 – 19
BRISTOL EASTERN (48): Vanessa Drury 1 0 2, Natalia Vye 1 0 2, Alaina Joy 0 0 0, Cassie Sward 1 1 3, Jenna Azab 0 0 0, Leah Roy 2 0 4, Amanda Noel 4 0 8, Lauren Ayotte 2 3 7, Savannah Drury 1 0 3, Emily Zurowski 0 0 0, Autumn Udoh 9 0 19, Rabiatu Bah 0 0 0. Totals: 21 4 48.
MALONEY (19): Kaylani Zackery 1 0 2, Jenna Quilty 0 0 0, Janielyz Munoz Lopez 0 0 0, Angie Guzman 0 0 0, Amaya McNeil 5 3 13, Arianna Stanio 0 0 0, Traci Tycz 2 0 4. Totals: 8 3 19.
Three-point goals: Savannah Drury (BE), Autumn Udoh (BE).
Records: Bristol Eastern 9-2 overall; Maloney 1-8.
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