Paige Bueckers returns with a shout, a standing ovation and a few buckets as UConn routs St. John’s, 93-38

HARTFORD, Conn. — At 5:52 p.m., Paige Bueckers jogged out to the XL Center court with her teammates, letting out a yell. “Woooooo,” reverberated through the empty arena.

For the first time since Dec. 5, Bueckers was one with her teammates. No crutches, no cast, no brace. Her return went about as well as anyone could have expected. She played eight minutes, brief appearances in each of the first three quarters, and scored eight points in the Huskies’ 93-38 victory over St. John’s in Big East women’s basketball.

Bueckers was cleared to play by UConn’s medical staff after a meeting with Dr. Robert Arciero on Thursday. She was not in UConn’s starting lineup against St. John’s, which included Nika Muhl, Azzi Fudd, Aaliyah Edwards, Christyn Williams and Olivia Nelson-Ododa.