They tied the ref's hands: When your team's #1 free throw attempter on a season takes only two (2) field goal attempts and pulls down only 2 rebounds all game long.........when your team's #2 free throw attempter on a season is out with a wrist injury.......when your team's #3 free throw attempter on a season where they also normally lead the team in drives to the basket, goes 1-8 and is almost invisible all game long.....when your team's #4 free throw attempter on a season does take 10 attempts in 18 minutes, but they are mostly perimeter jumpers due to her dealing with some sort of injury all game long.....well, you're probably going to see that team get dominated on the boards and in the paint all game long, and have a pretty off game in terms of getting fouled and going to the free throw line.
Connecticut is typically a team that does not gather fouls in any typical scenario, anyways. They don't foul, and they don't get fouled. Luigi likes smooth, free-flowing motion offense where everyone is moving, cutting, driving, and passing. Not much banging and battling in the paint. As such, CT was something like 178th nationally this past season in free throw attempts, with under 500 total attempts, while South Carolina was 5th with 700+ attempts. South Carolina played 1 more game this season than CT did.
So, you run an offense that typically does NOT generate fouls and free throws, you do NOT present much of a contest for the rebounds or points in the paint, and the vast majority of your scoring comes from perimeter jump shots.
And it surprises you that there is a vast disparity in rebounds, fouls, and free-throw attempts? Really??
yes, it does. Otherwise I wouldn't have mentioned it. Duh. It was an unfortunate night, once again of illness and injury for UConn, but as I've said earlier, I still believe SC would have eeked out the win. It was just their time.