University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
St. John's
No. 1 UConn to Face St. John’s in BIG EAST Quarterfinals
3/5/2021 2:14:00 PM | Women's Basketball
UNCASVILLE, Conn. – The top-ranked and top-seeded UConn women's basketball team (21-1, 18-0 BIG EAST) will begin BIG EAST Tournament play against No. 8-seed St. John's (8-15, 4-12) in the quarterfinals Saturday at noon in Mohegan Sun Arena. The game will air on FS1 and The River 105.9.
Paige Bueckers joined Maya Moore as the only players to win BIG EAST Player and Freshman of the Year in the same season with the announcement of the BIG EAST regular season honors this week. Bueckers and junior Christyn Williams were unanimously named to the All-BIG EAST First Team while Bueckers was joined unanimously by Aaliyah Edwards on the BIG EAST All-Freshman Team.
Junior Olivia Nelson-Ododa was selected as Co-Defensive Player of the Year and was tabbed to the All-BIG EAST Second Team. Edwards earned Sixth-Woman of the Year honors. Geno Auriemma was named conference Coach of the Year for the 17th time in his career.
UConn has won 25 conference tournament titles, including 18 as members of the BIG EAST. This was the Huskies' 27th season winning a regular season conference title. Including tournament games, UConn has won 157 straight against conference opponents, dating back to 2013.
The Huskies finished the regular season with a 63-53 win over Marquette Monday. Junior Olivia Nelson-Ododa had a double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds and added a season-high six blocks. Freshman Aaliyah Edwards had 16 points, eight rebounds and three steals off the bench.
UConn is 43-17 all-time vs. St. John's. The Huskies and Red Storm met twice in the regular season: a 94-62 UConn win on Feb. 3 and a 77-32 UConn win on Feb. 17. UConn's last loss to an unranked team came against St. John's on Feb. 18, 2012.
St. John's advanced to the quarterfinals with a 65-57 win over No. 9-seed Xavier Friday. Leilani Correa was named All-BIG EAST First Team after leading the Red Storm with 18.0 points in the regular season. Head coach Joe Tartamella is in his ninth season.
