Paige Bueckers recovered from knee surgery, will rejoin UConn Huskies women's basketball team for Friday's game

The UConn women's basketball team announced Thursday that reigning national player of the year Paige Bueckers has been cleared to return from knee surgery and will suit up for the first time since early December when the Huskies take on St. John's on Friday in Hartford, Connecticut.

The sophomore guard underwent surgery Dec. 13 to repair an anterior tibial plateau fracture and lateral meniscus tear. She suffered the injuries in the final minute of UConn's 73-54 win over Notre Dame on Dec. 5.

Bueckers warmed up ahead of UConn's game Wednesday against Marquette but was not available to play. Coach Geno Auriemma said she had an appointment Thursday with Dr. Robert Arciero, chief of the sports medicine division in the department of orthopedic surgery at UConn Health.

«Then, we'll see what happens,» Auriemma said.

The Huskies (20-5) have played all but six games this season without Bueckers, going 15-4 in her absence. She was averaging 21.2 points, 6.2 assist, 5.5 rebounds and 2.7 steals before the injury.