The Bristol Eastern girls basketball team lost to West Haven in the finals of West Haven’s Holiday Tournament on Saturday, falling by the score of 50-40. 

The Lancers had a strong defensive game, but struggled on the offensive end.  Cassie Sward scored 19 points, including four three-pointers, keeping BE in the game.

In the opening quarter, Autumn Udoh gave BE a quick 2-0 lead on their first possession. It was her only basket of the game. Udoh did hit on 8-of-10 foul shots to finish with 10 points.

The Blue Devils of West Haven held a 13-5 lead late in the first period. In the closing seconds, Sward made her first three-pointer. This shot cut the lead to 13-8 after one.

Hoops by Sward and Leah Roy to open the second quarter cut the lead to 13-12. The teams then traded hoops for the rest of the period. Savannah Drury’s late three set the score at 22-17, Blue Devil’s lead at the half.

In the second half, Eastern was in foul trouble in both the third and fourth periods. West Haven converted 18 of 23 foul shots in the second half (20-of-25 for the game). 

Sward connected on three three-pointers in the third period, one at the 2:27 mark giving Eastern a 27-26 lead (their only lead of the game). Her final three at the 1:10 mark tied the game at 30.  West Haven led at the end of three, 33-32.

In the fourth quarter, the game remained tight. Amanda Noel scored two hoops. Then, Sward made a fast break basket following a Udoh rebound and a pass to Roy. Roy hit a streaking Sward for the layup. This series of plays got the Lancers within two points at 40-38 with 3:10 to play. 

West Haven outscored Eastern 10-2 the rest of the way to win by the 50-40 mark. The only field goal in the Blue Devil’s run was scored by tournament MVP Noelle Lawrence (game high 22 points) on a traditional 3-point play. The rest of West Haven’s points came on foul shots as both Drury and Noel fouled out. Sward and Udoh finished with four fouls apiece.

West Haven outscored the Lancers, 20-9 at the foul stripe, accounting for the margin of victory.

Eastern’s is now 2-3 on the season, West Haven improves to 4-2.

The Lancer’s next game will be a home contest against Windsor on Thursday, January 2.

Bristol Eastern (2-3):  Savannah Drury 1  0  3,  Natalia Vye 0  0  0, Cassie Sward 7  1  19,  Emily Zurowski 0  0  0,  Leah Roy 2  0  4,  Amanda Noel 2  0  4,  Jayle Evins-Mosley 0  0  0, Elle Connoy 0  0  0,  Autumn Udoh 1  8  10.  Totals:  13   9   40.

West Haven (50): Ella Morgan 3  2  8,  Noele Lawrence  7  6  22,  D’Lyana Dixon 2  6  10,  Taryn Walker  2  3  7,   Aniah Glover 0  2  2  Madden Evangeliste 0  0  0,  Natalia Washington 0  1  1.     Totals:  14  20   50.

Eastern:         8    9    15    8   – – – –   40                                                                                                 
West Haven:  13   9    11   17  – – – –   50