In Uncasville, Connecticut, Paige Bueckers played a pivotal role with 20 points, leading the third-ranked UConn Huskies to a dominant 71-40 triumph over St. John’s in the Big East women’s basketball tournament quarterfinals on Saturday.
UConn’s victory was bolstered by Sarah Strong’s double-double performance of 10 points and 14 rebounds, while Azzi Fudd contributed 11 points. The Huskies, now with a record of 29-3, secured their 13th consecutive victory in the Big East tournament and marked their 34th consecutive win in conference tournament play.
For the Red Storm, Ariana Vanderhoop and Kylie Lavelle each tallied 11 points, hitting three three-pointers apiece. Lashae Dwyer added 10 points for St. John’s, now 16-15 on the season.
The Huskies seized control with an impressive 22-0 run after the Red Storm opened the game with the first two points.
Lavelle showcased her skills by scoring eight points in just under two minutes, attempting to narrow UConn’s lead. However, Bueckers responded with four of her ten first-half points in the last moments of the second quarter, steering UConn to a 34-17 halftime advantage.
Even though St. John’s managed to make four three-pointers in the second half, it wasn’t enough to surpass their regular-season figures against UConn.
The Huskies accomplished a milestone by advancing to the semifinals of their conference tournament for the 37th consecutive season, a streak stretching back to 1988.
A key segment of the game saw UConn hold St. John’s scoreless for nearly nine minutes, with a strong contribution from Fudd who scored five points during this span. Kaitlyn Chen, Bueckers, and Jana El Alfy each added four points, helping to eclipse the Red Storm’s efforts.
Remarkably, UConn’s first turnover occurred with just under eight minutes left in the third quarter, demonstrating their control of the game. St. John’s, who typically ranks third in the Big East with nearly nine steals per game, only managed one steal within the first three quarters.
Looking ahead, UConn is set to face Villanova in the Big East tournament semifinals on Sunday.
