NEW YORK (AP) — Breanna Stewart had 18 points, 11 rebounds and six blocks to lead No. 2 UConn to a 70-54 win over St. John’s on Sunday at the Maggie Dixon Classic.
Morgan Tuck led the Huskies (12-1) with 23 points while Moriah Jefferson added 16.
UConn led by seven at the half before Tuck fueled a 13-2 run, scoring 11 straight points. Her 3-pointer made it 51-33 with 16:09 left in the game.
St. John’s (12-2) didn’t get closer than 11 the rest of the way.
The annual women’s doubleheader at MSG honors former Army coach Maggie Dixon, who died of heart arrhythmia in 2006 at age 28. The first game on Sunday honored the legacy of women’s basketball at the Garden. It was a rematch between Immaculata and Queens College, the first women’s game ever played at MSG 40 years ago. Queens College won the game 76-60.
St. John’s hung around with UConn in the first half behind Danaejah Grant’s 13 points. Jefferson had 14 as the Huskies built a 38-31 lead at the break.
Then UConn put the game away early in the second half behind Tuck.
Aliyyah Handford led St. John’s with 20 points.
MORE THAN A GAME:
There was a symposium hosted by former New York Liberty star Sue Wicks between the two games that featured some of the former greats from the game 40 years ago. The event also included a health and heart expo.
The first Maggie Dixon Classic was held at Army in 2006 — a men’s and women’s doubleheader. The Pittsburgh men, coached by Maggie’s brother Jamie, beat Western Michigan, and Ohio State routed Army. The past eight Classics have been played at Madison Square Garden.
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY:
The Garden honored participants of that first women’s game 40 years ago by bringing them out at the half of the first game. Honorees included former WNBA President Donna Orender, who was a freshman on the Queens team.
TIP-INS
UConn: Stewart became the third fastest players to 1,500 points in her career making her the fifth player to do it in 100 games or fewer. It only took her 88 games. Maya Moore did it in 81 and Kerry Bascom in 87. … Mosqueda-Lewis did it in 97 games. Geno Auriemma received the Maggie Dixon Courage award before the game.
St. John’s: Red Storm beat their first ranked opponent since 2012 when they topped No. 23 Seton Hall on Friday. They couldn’t pull off consecutive wins against Top 25 teams for the first time since 2012. … This is the fourth time that St. John’s is playing in the Maggie Dixon Classic. The school earned its first win last season beating Texas A&M. The Red Storm lost to Baylor and Duke.
UP NEXT:
UConn: hosts Tulsa on Wednesday.
St. John’s: hosts Butler on Friday.
Comment count on this article reflects comments made on Breitbart.com and Facebook. Visit Breitbart's Facebook Page.