UConn women’s basketball phenom Paige Bueckers made her highly anticipated return to the court on Wednesday night, helping the No. 6 ranked Huskies cruise to a commanding 71-45 victory over St. John’s. The reigning National Player of the Year showed few signs of rust despite missing the previous two games with a sprained left knee.
Bueckers Wastes No Time Making an Impact
Though Head Coach Geno Auriemma opted to ease Bueckers back into action, playing her just 23 minutes, the superstar guard still managed to make her presence felt. She tallied 12 points on 5-of-10 shooting, knocking down a pair of mid-range jumpers in the third quarter to help UConn pull away.
I’m feeling good. I’m just glad to be back out there. Obviously first game back from anything you just want to get your feet wet, get the feel of playing basketball again, the physicality of it, the pace of it. But feeling good.
– Paige Bueckers on her return
Closing in on 2,000 Points
With her 12-point outing, Bueckers now sits just six points shy of becoming the 12th player in UConn history to reach the 2,000 point milestone. Impressively, she’s on pace to achieve the feat in 101 fewer games than it took Maya Moore, currently the fastest Husky to hit that mark.
- Bueckers: 1,994 points in 83 games
- Moore: 2,000 points in 184 games
Overcoming Injury Setbacks
Bueckers, who took college basketball by storm as a freshman, has battled injuries over the past two seasons. A knee issue limited her to just 17 total games as a sophomore and junior. But if Wednesday’s performance is any indication, the dynamic playmaker looks poised to finish her collegiate career on a high note.
I never doubt what Paige can do to impact the game, because I’ve seen it so many times, but I also know she’s not a robot where you just put her in, push the button and anything happens automatically.
– Coach Geno Auriemma on Bueckers’ return
Next Up for UConn
With Bueckers back in the fold, UConn will now turn its attention to a Sunday showdown with Seton Hall. A win in that contest would not only extend the Huskies’ winning streak to three games but also give their star guard a chance to etch her name in the record books in front of the home crowd at Gampel Pavilion.
