Geno Auriemma seems unimpressed with Paige Bueckers in UConn return game after first half vs St John's

UConn coach Geno Auriemma wasn't impressed with Paige Bueckers' first-half performance against St. John's on Wednesday. Bueckers returned from a two-game absence from a left knee sprain and scored six points on 1-of-4 shooting and 4-of-4 from the free-throw line.

SNY courtside reporter Chelsea Sherrod had a chance to talk with the 11-time national women's college basketball champion coach, who was visibly disappointed with how his superstar played in the first half.

"She got those quick early buckets. That's the one thing. When she's not moving like constant motion... it's tough," Auriemma said. "We've got to make her moving a little bit better in the second half."

Other than Bueckers' unimpressive return, Auriemma hailed the team's defense for holding down St. John's to 21 points in the first 20 minutes.

"I thought our defense has been unbelievable," he said. "We've been really good defensively. We just got to get a little more movement offensively."

The Huskies opened with a 25-10 lead in the first quarter but their offense went stagnant in the second period, scoring just 11 points.

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Paige Bueckers is six points away from 2,000-point mark

Paige Bueckers did score six more points in the second half and finished with 12 points on 4-of-7 shooting from the field. The fifth-year guard made amends with her unimpressive first half, making all three of her attempts from the field.

She played 23 minutes in her return and her offensive production in the Huskies' 71-45 win moved her to 1,994 points. This is six points away from reaching the 2,000-point mark.

Bueckers also moved into a tie with Bria Hartley for No. 12 in UConn's all-time career scoring list.

Azzi Fudd scored 13 points, continuing her streak of being the team's scoring leader for the third consecutive game. Ashlynn Shade finished with 10 points while Jana El Alfy had eight points and six rebounds.

UConn shot 56.9% from the field and hauled down 32 rebounds to dominate the game. On the other hand, St John's managed to make 32.7% of their shots and had 24 rebounds to their credit.

Paige Bueckers and the Huskies will go on a three-day break and are back in action on Sunday against Seton Hall at the Gampel Pavilion in Storrs.