No. 9 Bristol Eastern had the lead after one quarter in its Class L girls basketball state tournament quarterfinal game at No. 1 Notre Dame-Fairfield on Monday night.
The ND version of the Lancers blitzed Bristol’s group for a 12-0 run to start the second quarter, however, and changed the complexion of the game. The run turned an 11-9 Eastern lead into a 21-11 ND-Fairfield advantage, and the visiting Lancers couldn’t recover. ND-Fairfield won 55-48 and ended Eastern’s season at 15-9. ND-Fairfield will play the winner of No. 4 Hillhouse and No. 5 East Haven on Friday at a time and location to be determined.
Eastern got back to within 23-17 after falling behind 21-11, but ND-Fairfield extended its lead back to double digits. The host Lancers led 31-19 at halftime. The visiting Lancers pulled to within eight points early in the third quarter, but the home team went ahead 45-32 after three quarters. Eastern brought the deficit back to single digits in the fourth quarter, but couldn’t get any closer.
It was the last game in an Eastern uniform for seniors Paige McLaughlin, Julia Gettings, Meredith Forman and Amaya Massari.
