The No.1 UConn Huskies will look to close out their regular season in a historic fashion, facing St. John’s at Madison Square Garden. This would be the first-ever standalone women’s college basketball game at the iconic venue. UConn enters this game with a clean 30-0 overall record and 19-0 in the Big East.
On the other hand, St. John’s enters this matchup with a 21-9 record and an 11-8 record in conference play. So, who will emerge victorious in this final push for the postseason? Let’s find out.
UConn vs. St. John Prediction
The UConn Huskies are riding a 46-game win streak since last season and have won 66 straight Big East games. So, for the Red Storm to stop that kind of momentum would need a near-perfect performance. So far, St. John’s has not shown any capability to be on par to pull an upset against the mighty Huskies. UConn operates with ruthless efficiency on both ends of the floor. Geno Auriemma has ensured running his offense through his two stars as March approaches.
The key matchup to look out for is Azzi Fudd against St. John’s perimeter defense. Fudd is averaging 18.1 points per game and is coming off a 24-point performance against Georgetown. If St. John’s can’t contain Fudd from the deep, the game could get ugly real quick. This is exactly what happened in January when Fudd and Sarah Strong combined for 40 points. For St. John’s, Brooke Moore leads the team, scoring 12.2 points per game. This is a respectable number, but she would need major help from her supporting cast to keep the Red Storm afloat.
The other critical battle is in the frontcourt, where Sarah Strong is averaging 18.8 points and 7.7 rebounds per game. This is a number somewhat impossible for St. John’s to match. UConn has the edge at every position, and the Huskies are 7-0 all-time at MSG, including 3-0 against the Red Storm. ESPN’s matchup predictor estimates a 99% chance for UConn to win this matchup.
UConn vs. St. John Lineups
UConn Lineup
- KK Arnold
- Azzi Fudd
- Ashlynn Shade
- Sarah Strong
- Serah Williams
St. John’s Lineup
- Shaulana Wagner
- Brooke Moore
- Sa’Mya Wyatt
- Skye Owen
- Kyla Hayes
UConn vs. St. John Injury Report
There are no significant injuries to report from UConn or St. John’s side. Both teams are expected to field a healthy roster for Sunday’s matchup.
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