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Williams leads No. 1 UConn women to 77-32 rout of St. John’s

NCAA Womens Basketball: Connecticut at St. John's

Feb 17, 2021; Queens, New York, USA; Connecticut Huskies guard Saylor Poffenbarger (4) shoots the ball in the second half against the St. JohnÕs Red Storm at Carnesecca Arena. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports

Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports

NEW YORK -- Christyn Williams scored 21 points and Paige Bueckers added 20 to help No. 1 UConn cruise to a 77-32 win over St. John’s on Wednesday night.

UConn (17-1, 14-0 Big East) moved up to No. 1 in the AP Top 25 on Monday for the first time this season. It’s the 246th week since the 1994-95 season that the Huskies have held the top spot. They have been No. 1 for at least one week in each of the past nine seasons. The next closest active streak is two years in a row.

The Huskies had a brutal schedule to start February with five games in 10 days, but looked refreshed after a couple days off.

UConn had been getting off to slow starts lately, but took command early Wednesday, building an 18-6 lead after the first quarter behind Olivia Nelson-Ododa, who had eight points in the opening period. She finished the game with 17 points.

The Red Storm (6-12, 3-9) had more turnovers - seven - then points or made baskets in the quarter. They tried to slow the game, working the shot clock down on many possessions. That resulted in either tough shots to beat the buzzer or a shot-clock violation.

UConn continued its hot shooting in the second quarter, extending the lead to 46-15 at the half. The Huskies shot 76% (19 of 25) from the field, including hitting four of five from behind the 3-point line in the first 20 minutes.

It didn’t get much better for the Red Storm in the second half. The Huskies finished the game shooting 65% from the field.

St. John’s has lost its last six meetings to the Huskies, including a 94-62 setback on Feb. 3. St. John’s was the last unranked team to beat UConn back in 2012 - nine years ago Thursday - when the Red Storm ended the Huskies’ 99-game home winning streak.

Leading scorer Leilani Correa came into the game averaging 20.9 points, but she had just two against the Huskies, making one of 10 shots. The sophomore guard had 33 points in the Feb. 3 matchup.

Unique Drake was one of three players with seven points to lead the Red Storm.

PHENOMENAL PAIGE

Bueckers also had nine assists, while making eight of her 10 shots from the field.

STAT SHEET STUFFER

UConn’s Evina Westbrook didn’t score, taking just one shot. She did have eight rebounds, seven assists, two steals and a block.

TIP-INS

The entire St. John’s team took a knee during the playing of the national anthem while the UConn players stood with their arms interlocked. The Red Storm have been kneeling before every game this season. ... The Huskies have won 226 straight games against unranked teams since that St. John’s loss.

UP NEXT

UConn: At Xavier on Saturday.

St. John’s: Hosts Providence on Sunday.