Paige Bueckers returns in UConn’s rout of St. John’s

Paige Bueckers returned to the floor for UConn on Friday night, nearly three months after suffering an injury to her left knee.

The sophomore guard checked into the game early in the first quarter, receiving a standing ovation from the Connecticut crowd. In her 13 minutes of game action, Bueckers notched eight points on 4-for-5 shooting and grabbed two rebounds to help the Huskies to a 93-38 win over St. John’s in their penultimate regular season game.

Bueckers, the reigning National Player of the Year, has been sidelined since Dec. 5, when she was helped off the court in the final minute of UConn’s game against Notre Dame. That same month, Bueckers underwent surgery to repair an anterior tibial plateau fracture in her left knee.

“Just to see my name in a box score with minutes next to it is surreal to me, amazing to me, just to be back in this position,” she said after the game. “I’m just grateful for everything that I have.”

Azzi Fudd led UConn with 19 points on Friday night, while Aaliyah Edwards added 16 points and seven rebounds.

UConn will conclude its regular season on Sunday against Providence before gearing up for the postseason. The Big East women’s tournament begins next Friday.