I think it's a relevant statistic based on how UConn acted in those close losses even if it's a small sample. It would be one thing if UConn was flat out beat in those close games. Many of the losses were decided by UConn errors/brain farts.
It easy to perform when you won the game in the first 35 minutes and team raises the white flag. But in those rare occasions a team has fought back and stayed with UConn until the very few seconds, how the coaches and players react is noteworthy. UConn usually doesn't respond very well. When they need to make the one stop (see St. John's/ND in 2012, ND in 2013, Stanford last night) or one play to win (Hartley careless TO with shot clock off racing down the court out of control in tied game in Denver, yikes on the sense of urgency on the final play last night). One shouldn't draw too many rash conclusions, but it is noteworthy.
This is noteworthy seeing there are so few teams in WCBB who have the talent and coaching to get to that final minute or OT and keep it so close. And while UConn preaches how tough their practices are and how they get put in impossible situations all the time, it's clear you can't replicate a tough tight game situation in practice. It might also be noteworthy because UConn's razor tight substitution patterns seems to suggest UConn never believes it's going to come down to the wire. A rotation of 6-7 leaves you vulnerable in late game situations to foul trouble and fatigue. Perhaps usage of Williams/Ekmark early on for a couple mins would have made no difference. But it would be nice if more than 7 players on the roster could earn the trust of the coaches to play at least a couple mins here.
. Geno sucks...please give us a different coach like the one from Duke where her team is filled with All Americans but can't get passed Elite 8. Give us a break