Because Tiff blew the coverage. At least that is what Geno or CD said.
JMHO: Tiff was confused (in part) by the intentional fouls she was asked to commit on the inbounds play.
As well as I can remember it from just one live shot ---- UConn had two fouls to give; and Geno apparently told Tiff to use the two "free" fouls to run a little clock. Tiff intentionally (and quickly) fouled the inbound pass receiver on the first inbound play. But then, before the 2nd inbound play, Tiff made some communication with Geno (or one of the other coaches) that she had 4 fouls and couldn't foul again. She walked away from the area and player she was defending with a shrug of her shoulders and a look of confusion. She was heading in the general direction of the top of the key the last time she was on camera. Exactly where she went on the floor and who she picked up for coverage was not on camera. Bria (IIRC) came out to cover the receiver, and ( off-camera) I assume that Tiff picked up whoever Bria was covering.
Whatever the details, the expected defense with Tiff on the inbound pass receiver was "screwed up." How much this confused other UConn players is impossible to discern; but I was immediately nervous about the play and the coverage and, most important, the focus of the UConn players. I think the whole confusion of "using the fouls" (which UConn does not do very often) was certainly a factor in some players switching (and blowing) coverage on the biggest defensive play of the year.
FWIW -- Tiff and Bria(?) both fouled the inbound pass receiever too quickly -- so that very little time was run off the clock. I think the seconds on the shot clock was in the mid-20's. In the end, the few seconds that were run off the clock came out of UConn's hide, not St. John's. St. John's scored with 8 seconds remaining. So it was UConn's possession that was most hindered by a short clock.
Bottom line: The decision to use the two free fouls was not productive.
