HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Connecticut’s Azzi Fudd predicted earlier this month that the Huskies would change into a “dangerous” crew as soon as all of their gamers had been wholesome.
Famous person Paige Bueckers returned Friday from a left knee damage that stored her for greater than two months, and No. 8 Connecticut appeared to dwell as much as Fodd’s expectations in a 93-38 defeat to St. John.
The reigning Nationwide Participant of the 12 months scored eight factors, scored twice rebounding and one help within the 12 minutes coach Gino Orima allowed her to play. She has not been on the court docket since December 5, when she fractured her tibial plateau and torn meniscus in her left knee through the closing seconds of Husky’s win over Notre Dame.
“I used to be nervous, however very excited and really blissful,” Beckers mentioned. “I’ve by no means been happier to be restricted to minutes. Simply seeing my title on a sq. rating with minutes subsequent to it’s simply surreal to me, it is simply superb for me to be again in that place.”
The sophomore did not begin, however scored with a 3:41 left within the first quarter to standing ovations with the Husky who already led 19-4.
The followers had been on their ft once more after Bueckers made two juke strikes and drained his first shot to beat the primary quarter bell. Husky drove 30-8 after 10 minutes.
“Basket one,” she mentioned, “it wouldn’t be mine if it wasn’t one thing further.” “So, I do not know, it was a number of enjoyable.”
Foud Al Husky (21-5, 15-1 Large East) led with 19 factors. Alia Edwards added 16 factors, and Kristen Williams, Olivia Nelson-Ododa and Caroline Ducharme scored 13 factors.
Coach Gino Orima mentioned the return of the Bakers gave your complete crew extra confidence because it headed towards the postseason, largely as a result of the remainder of its gamers needed to tackle extra accountability in her absence.
“The crew she’s again on is a greater crew, that has a greater understanding of what we’re attempting to do,” he mentioned. “It has extra gamers who can do extra issues than they might the final time I performed.”
Camree Clegg and Kadaja Bailey every scored 9 factors for St. John’s (11-17, 7-11), who had received 4 of their earlier 5 video games.
The Pink Storm was by no means on this storm. Ocon scored the primary 17 factors of the sport, main 51-19 within the first half and 78-28 after three quarters.
However Fudd mentioned she would not really feel the crew has fairly reached the extent of it being “dangerous.”
“Not but, not but,” she mentioned. “We’ll get higher.”
Giant Picture: St. John’s – Pink Storm got here in averaging 73.8 factors per sport. They had been held by 26.4% within the taking pictures (14 out of 53) on this photograph.
Coach John Tartamella mentioned the Packers’ return could have given the Husky a lift, nevertheless it had little to do together with his crew’s poor efficiency.
“Clearly we simply needed to be prepared whether or not she was going to play or not,” he mentioned. “UConn will not be a crew that won’t attend.”
Connecticut – The Bakers averaged 21.2 factors, 6.2 assists, and 5.5 rebounds within the six video games she performed earlier than she was injured. UConn went 15-4 with out her, falling out of the highest ten for a short time, the primary time that had occurred since 2005. She was one in all eight UConn gamers to have missed not less than two video games this season. Edwards and Evina Westbrook had been the one gamers to have appeared in each sport this season.
“Due to that, they really feel like they’ve arrange a sanctuary,” Orima mentioned. “They’re in higher form, as a result of they performed a number of minutes. And hopefully, they’re mentally just a little higher due to what they have been by means of.”
Key stats: Ocon beat St. John 5-10 within the paint and 21-0 within the first half. The Husky additionally outperformed the Pink Storm 41-23.
Repercussions of the opinion ballot: UConn has now received by six objectives in a row within the common season closing on Sunday, which is more likely to be a magnet for some voters, particularly with the return of the Bueckers.
subsequent one: St. John’s ends the common season at Marquette on Sunday. UConn additionally closes the common season on Sunday after they return to campus to host Windfall.
