Storrs - It was the decision of ESPN and the NCAA to showcase the No. 1 UConn women in the featured 9 p.m. time slot Saturday night.

And to think the Huskies only entered their first-round NCAA tournament game as a 52-point favorite.

The Huskies (33-1) provided the drama they usually do - none - and began their journey for title No. 10 with an 89-33 win over 16th-seeded and overmatched St. Francis of Brooklyn.

UConn is awarded the 9 p.m. time slot as well Monday night in their bid to reach the Sweet 16 in Albany. In the way is old friend/nemesis Rutgers, a 79-66 winner over Seton Hall in Saturday's other game at Gampel Pavilion.

"We just want to play well, get a nice rhythm going,'' said UConn coach Geno Auriemma. "And I thought we did that. We got Morgan Tuck going pretty good tonight.''

Morgan Tuck led the Huskies with a career-high 26 points (on 12-for-13 shooting), while Breanna Stewart had 17, Gabby Williams 15 (on 7-for-7 shooting) and Kia Nurse 12.

The Huskies shot a crisp 83 percent (20-24) in the second half, 70 percent for the game.

UConn used an 18-0 run midway through the first half to turn a mildly interesting 18-11 lead into the customary destruction. UConn held St. Francis for more than six minutes.

The health of Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis created some concern in the building, if ever so briefly in the first half. Mosqueda-Lewis went to the bench wincing, appearing to have tweaked her left ankle. Trainer Rosemary Ragle re-taped the ankle and Mosqueda-Lewis was back quickly.

Tuck scored 20 of her points in the first half when she shot 9-of-10 overall.

"People forget just how versatile she is,'' said Auriemma. "Morgan, in her own way, is maybe more important that anyone on the court.''

Sarah Benedetti, a senior from Canton, made three 3-point field goals in the first half for the Terriers (15-19), and finished with 13 points overall.

No. 8 Rutgers (23-9) advanced thanks to 17 points and 12 rebounds from senior Betnijah Laney, who hit two critical three-pointers late in the game to thwart Seton Hall's rally. Kahleah Cooper and Tyler Scaife had 21 points apiece to lead the Scarlet Knights, who won the unofficial New Jersey state championship.

Laney made but 10 three-pointers all season.

"If you want to place blame, place it with the scouting report and the scout," Seton Hall coach Tony Bozzella said.

"Laney's shots at the end of the game were what a senior needs to do. We covered her and she still made them, and that's why she's a great player. They are also more experienced in these types of games, and it showed."

So now the Scarlet Knights, who have played some memorable (and not so memorable) games with UConn in the past, get the Huskies with the season on the line Monday.

"UConn is a storied program. I'm so glad that I'm really familiar," Rutgers coach C. Vivian Stringer said. "It's a great program. One that we all strive to measure to. Geno has done an outstanding job.

"We're happy we have an opportunity to play them," Stringer said. "You might say 'why?' The reasons are very clear. First, you don't assume anything. The game isn't over until it's played. There's a lot we can learn. We're excited to have the opportunity to showcase who we are and what this is all about."

The winner of Monday's game plays in the Albany regional semifinals Saturday at Times Union Arena against the winner of Monday's South Florida-Louisville game.

m.dimauro@theday.com

Twitter: @BCgenius