STORRS, Conn. — Azzi Fudd delivered an impressive performance with 34 points, including 17 during a standout third quarter, leading No. 7 UConn to a commanding 78-40 victory against St. John’s on Wednesday evening. This win marked UConn’s 34th consecutive victory in Big East regular-season play.

Fudd showcased her shooting skills by sinking a career-high eight 3-pointers. Paige Bueckers contributed significantly to the team’s effort with 16 points, six rebounds, four assists, four steals, and five blocked shots, all accomplished in three quarters. Aubrey Griffin also played a crucial role, adding 10 points and nine rebounds along with two steals and three blocked shots.

For St. John’s, Lashae Dwyer scored 11 points while Ber’Nyah Mayo added 10. The Red Storm, now holding a record of 13-11 overall and 3-10 in conference play, struggled against a superior UConn team.

UConn dominated early when Fudd and Bueckers combined to score the last 19 points of the first quarter, giving them a 24-13 lead after the opening ten minutes. The Huskies capitalized on their momentum, extending their lead to 20 points after scoring the first nine points of the second half.

Notably, Ice Brady has been sidelined for UConn, missing her third straight game due to a shoulder injury, impacting the team’s depth.

In terms of performance, St. John’s came into the match ranked 19th in Division I women’s basketball for scoring defense, averaging 55.1 points allowed per game, and 28th for turnovers with an average of 12.9 per game. However, UConn surpassed the 55-point mark well before the third quarter ended, while the Red Storm finished the game with 22 turnovers.

UConn’s Sarah Strong continues to impress as she finds her place among the best freshmen in the program’s history, currently ranking tied for 10th in points scored by a UConn freshman and holding the same position for steals with 61. She is also close behind in rebounds, just five shy of tying for 10th in that category as well.

A key moment in the game occurred late in the first quarter when UConn scored the final five points to close it out strong. As the fourth quarter approached its midpoint, UConn had managed to score an impressive number of points off turnovers, equal to the total points scored by St. John’s at that stage.

Looking ahead, the Red Storm will be back in action on Sunday when they face Butler, while UConn will take on No. 4 South Carolina on the same day.