Bueckers returns as No. 7 UConn routs St. John’

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — UConn’s Azzi Fudd predicted earlier this month that the Huskies would become a “nasty” team once all of its players were healthy.

Star guard Paige Bueckers returned Friday from the left knee injury that had kept her out for more than two months, and No. 7 Connecticut looked like it was living up to Fudd’s expectations in a 93-38 rout of St. John’s.

The reigning national player of the year scored eight points and had two rebounds and one assist in the 12 minutes that coach Geno Auriemma allowed her to play. She had not been on the court since Dec. 5, when she suffered a tibial plateau fracture and torn meniscus in her left knee during the final seconds of the Huskies’ win over Notre Dame.

“I was nervous, but I was just so excited, so happy,” Bueckers said after Friday’s game. “I’ve never been more happy to be on a minutes restriction. Just to see my name in a box score with minutes next to it is just surreal to me, amazing to me just to be back in this position.”

The sophomore didn’t start, but checked in with 3:41 left in the first quarter to a standing ovation with the Huskies already leading 19-4.

The fans were on their feet again after Bueckers made a couple of juke moves and drained her first shot to beat the first-quarter buzzer. The Huskies led 30-8 after 10 minutes.

“The first basket, it wouldn’t be me if it wasn’t something extra,” she said. “So, I don’t know, it was a lot of fun.”

Fudd led the Huskies (21-5, 15-1 Big East) with 19 points. Aaliyah Edwards added 16 and Christyn Williams, Olivia Nelson-Ododa, Caroline Ducharme each scored 13.

Coach Geno Auriemma said Bueckers’ return has given the entire team more confidence as it heads towards the postseason, in large part because the rest