NEW YORK – Maya Moore and Tiffany Hayes each scored 21 points to help No. 2 Connecticut rout St. John's 84-52 on Wednesday night.
The win was the 750th of coach Geno Auriemma's career. He's only lost 123 games in his 26 seasons at UConn (15-1, 5-0 Big East).
Trailing 8-6 early on, UConn scored the next 21 points to take command of the game. Stefanie Dolson started the spurt with a layup and Hayes capped it with a 3-pointer that made it 27-8 with 10:38 left in the half.
Hayes and Samarie Walker had six points during the spurt. Walker finished with a career-high 15 points.
Eugenia McPherson finally ended the 5-minute scoring drought for St. John's with a layup, but the Red Storm (12-5, 1-3) could only get within 18 the rest of the game.
Da'Shena Stevens scored 12 points for St. John's, which has lost four straight games and fell out of the poll for the first time this season Monday.
The Red Storm were ranked for 16 straight weeks — the longest run in school history.
Moore matched her career-high with eight assists to move into 10th all-time at UConn — passing assistant coach Shea Ralph. The senior All-American is already in the Top 10 in most major categories at the school. She also had six rebounds, three steals and two blocks.
UConn remained unbeaten at Madison Square Garden in its four appearances. The Huskies routed Ohio State on Dec. 19 in the Maggie Dixon Classic which was their 88th straight victory overall. Connecticut went on to win an NCAA record 90 consecutive games before losing at Stanford on Dec. 30.
St. John's had won six of its seven prior appearances at MSG with the only loss coming also to Connecticut in 2007.
UConn has won the last 27 meetings between the teams with St. John's last victory coming in 1993.
After its early spurt, St. John's didn't get consecutive baskets until 5:20 remained in the half when Stevens and Coco Hart hit back-to-back jumpers that made it 36-18.
That's as close as they would get as UConn scored the next nine points to end any thoughts of a rally. Moore had the final five during that spurt, including a 3-pointer from behind the NBA line.
UConn led 48-25 at the half, shooting 64 percent (18-for-28) from the field.
St. John's couldn't get within 20 in the second half as the Huskies continued their torrid shooting. Connecticut finished the game shooting 57 percent (32-for-56) from the field.
The game was the second half of a doubleheader at MSG. The No. 4 Syracuse Orange men's team beat St. John's 76-59 in the opener.