Paige Bueckers made her first start since getting injured two months ago and Christyn Williams scored 16 points in her final regular-season game to lead No. 7 UConn to an 88-31 rout of Providence on Sunday.
Bueckers played 13 minutes again, scoring two points and had five assists in her second game since returning from the left knee injury that kept her sidelined since Dec. 5.
UConn has won seven straight games by an average of more than 39 points since losing their first conference game in almost nine years to Villanova on Feb. 9.
Graduate transfer Dorka Juhasz had 14 points and 10 rebounds, putting up her eighth double-double of the season. Azzi Fudd added 14 point and Olivia Nelson-Ododa had 13 points for the Huskies (22-5, 16-1 Big East).
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Janai Crooms had 12 points for Providence, which lost this season’s first meeting between the two teams in January by just eight points. The Friars were held to just 10 baskets on 55 attempts (18%) in this one.
The Huskies showed a few senior-day jitters, missing their first seven shots from the floor. Nelson-Ododa opened the scoring with a free throw more than two minutes into the game.
Connecticut trailed 4-1 before Williams hit a driving layup. That started a run that saw the Huskies score the final 24 points of the quarter and take complete control of the game.
Local
UConn extended the run to 29-0, before Kylee Sheppard hit a 3-pointer for Providence. The Huskies outscored Providence 26-6 in the second quarter and led 51-10 at halftime.
Sheppard left the game in the third quarter with a right-leg injury after coming down awkwardly during a rebound attempt.
BIG PICTURE
Providence: Providence has lost its last 31 games with UConn and falls to 21-43 in the series. The Friars have not beaten a ranked opponent since January, 2013.
UConn: UConn honored seniors Nelson-Ododa, Williams and Evina Westbrook (eight points), along with Juhasz, before the game. The seniors have compiled a 114-13 record at Connecticut. Juhasz, a transfer from Ohio State, still has one year of eligibility and has not said whether she plans to return to the Huskies next season.
UP NEXT
Providence: Opens play Friday in the Big East Tournament.
UConn: The Huskies will be the top seed in the conference tournament and take on the winner of the 8-9 game Saturday at noon.
