The starting 5 in that game (Butler, Samuelson, Nurse, Collier and Williams) outscored the entire Cinci team 42-34. The 3 WNBA players combined for 33 pts. The 15-15 tie occurred midway through the 1st period. There were games in which the "3 WNBA players" started and the score was also close in the first quarter.
UConn had several games that were close early. Ten days later against Tulane the WNBA players all started and they trailed 11-2 midway through the first period. Was that score predictive? No, and neither is the example you offered.