Paige Bueckers shoots UConn to 94-62 win over St. John’s

© Provided by Associated Press Connecticut guard Paige Bueckers (5) drives the ball against St. John’s guard Kadaja Bailey (30) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2021, in Storrs, Conn. (David Butler II/Pool Photo via AP)

STORRS, Conn. (AP) — Paige Bueckers scored a season-high 32 points and No. 3 UConn beat St. John’s 94-62 as the schools renewed their Big East rivalry Wednesday night.

The freshman hit 13 of 20 shots, including 5 of 6 from 3-point range, and topped 20 points for the third straight game. She also dished out seven assists.

Aaliyah Edwards added a season-high 22 points and nine rebounds for the Huskies (12-1, 10-0), who have played the required 13 games needed to qualify for the NCAA Tournament.

© Provided by Associated Press Connecticut guard Paige Bueckers (5) shoots against St. John’s forward Rayven Peeples (20) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2021, in Storrs, Conn. (David Butler II/Pool Photo via AP)

St. John’s Leilani Correa fell two points shy of her career high, putting up 33 to lead the Red Storm (5-10, 2-8).

The Huskies played without guard Christyn Williams (16.8 points per game), who sat with a left ankle injury.

UConn opened the game on a 10-2 run, with six points from Edwards, who got open early and often in the lane. The Huskies led 22-12 after 10 minutes, closing the first quarter on a 9-0 run.

© Provided by Associated Press Connecticut forward Olivia Nelson-Ododa (20) shoots against St. John’s during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2021, in Storrs, Conn. (David Butler II/Pool Photo via AP)

St. John’s shot 52% from the floor in the first half, but trailed 44-24 at intermission. Bueckers, who hit her first five shots from the floor, had 18 first-half points.

BIG PICTURE

St. John’s: The Red Storm’s leading scorer, Qadashah Hoppie, recently had shoulder surgery and will miss the rest of the season. The injury limited her to eight games, where she averaged 18 points and was shooting 40% from 3-point range.

UConn: Bueckers 32 points were the most by a UConn freshman since Tina Charles had 34 against South Florida in 2007. … Williams tested her ankle about an hour before the game but did not come back out with her team for final warmups. … Sophomore Aubrey Griffin had a sleeve on her right knee and played just two minutes.

© Provided by Associated Press Connecticut and St. John’s tip off to start an NCAA college basketball game Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2021, in Storrs, Conn. (David Butler II/Pool Photo via AP)

UP NEXT

UConn: The Huskies head to Milwaukee for a game with Marquette on Friday night.

St. John’s: The Red Storm are not scheduled to play again before hosting DePaul on Feb. 10.

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More AP women’s college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketball and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25.