University of Massachusets Athletics

Saturday, November 23
Amherst, Mass.
1:00 p.m.

University of Massachusetts

vs

Army

Game Coverage:
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WBB Pregame

Minutewomen Wrap up Five-Game Home Stand vs. Army on Saturday

November 22, 2024 | Women's Basketball

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University of Massachusetts Women's Basketball Notes & Information
Matchup Massachusetts vs. Army
Date | Time Nov. 23 |1:00 p.m. ET
Location Mullins Center | Amherst, Mass.
Twitter @UMassWBB
Instagram @umasswbb
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AMHERST, Mass. – The University of Massachusetts women's basketball program (2-3, 0-0 A-10) is set for a matchup with Army (5-1, 0-0 Patriot) on Saturday, Nov. 20 at the Mullins Center. Tip-off is scheduled for 1:00 p.m, action will be streamed live on ESPN+, with links and live updates available at umassathletics.com or @UMassWBB on X (Twitter). 
 
THE MATCHUP 
  • Massachusetts and Army are playing in their third matchup, with the first two being losses in the 1981-82 and 1982-83 seasons. 
LAST TIME OUT 
  • The Minutewomen fell to Holy Cross in a narrow 75-70 defeat.
  • Senior guard Allie Palmieri and Graduate Aleah Sorrentino combined for 23 points; Palmieri went 6-of8 at the free-throw line, Sorrentino went 4-of-7 from the field goal. 
  • Junior Lilly Ferguson set a season high in field goals made, going 3-of-5. 
NEW FACES IN NEW PLACES 
  • The Minutewomen welcome seven newcomers, three of which enter as transfers. 
  • Massachusetts brings freshmen Taylor Derkack (Colonia, N.J.), Yahmani McKayle (Queens, N.Y.), Kasey Bretones(Linwood, N.J.), and Jess Ross (Eastham, Mass.) into the mix for the 2024-25 season. 
  • Lipscomb transfer Aleah Sorrentino arrives to Amherst off a 12.3 points per game season, adding 6.4 rebounds in 26.8 minutes. The redshirt senior spent a year at Ole Miss prior to her two-year stint at Lipscomb. 
  • Megan Olbrys spent her last two seasons at Villanova, averaging 1.3 points and 1.3 rebounds in 7.2 minutes of action. 
  • Drexel transfer Momo LaClair is coming off a 2024 CAA Championship run as a key member of the rotation. LaClair played 17.8 minutes a game, adding 3.2 points and 1.5 assists per game. 
 
KULESZA ON THE RISE 
  • Senior Stefanie Kulesza is coming off one of the most-improved seasons in the Atlantic 10 last year, averaging career-bests in points (11.2), rebounds (7.1), field goal percentage (46.9), and minutes per game (31.4).  
  • Kulesza posted six double-doubles during the 2023-24 campaign, including a career-high game against No. 23 Washington State (20pts, 11reb). 
  • The Wilmington, Del. native led the Minutewomen in total field goals made, rebounds, steals, blocks, and minutes during the 2023-24 campaign. Kulesza also ranked second on the team in total points and three pointers made. 
 
SET FOR SUCCESS 
  • Allie Palmieri and Chinenye Odenigbo are primed to have a strong 2024-25 campaign for the Minutewomen.  
  • Palmieri redshirted in the 2023-24 campaign after a season at Seton Hall and two years at Boston College.  
  • Odenigbo put together 5.5 points and 3.8 rebounds in her freshman season, missing nine games due to injury.  
  • With the guard-post duo fully healthy and eligible to play, the Maroon and White look for them to be large contributors. 
 
YEAR TWO UNDER COACH LEFLAR 
  • Massachusetts women's basketball enters its second season under Head Coach Mike Leflar in 2024-25 after his tenure as Associate Head Coach (2021-23) and Assistant Coach (2018-21) with the Minutewomen 
  • Leflar has been an integral part of building the most successful era in Massachusetts women's basketball, helping the program to its first regular-season Atlantic 10 championship this past season after the program earned its first Atlantic 10 Tournament Championship in 2021-22, while adding an NCAA Tournament berth in 2022 to go along with WNIT appearances in 2021 and 2023 
  • Leflar most recently worked closely with the Minutewomen forwards, including 2023 Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year, Sam Breen. Under Leflar's guidance, Breen developed into one of the most decorated players in program history and earned back-to-back Atlantic 10 Player of the Year honors in 2022 and 2023 
 
UP NEXT 
  • The Minutewomen travel to Loudonville, New York to play Siena College in their next game on Sunday, Dec. 1. Tipoff is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. 
  • The game will be broadcasted on ESPN+ with links and live updates available at umassathletics.com or @UMassWBB on X (Twitter). 
 
 

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Next Event

Army
L, 50-56

Nov 23 (Sat)

1:00 p.m.
Box ScoreRecapGame Notes vs. ArmyWatch (ESPN+)PreviewLive Stats History
Full Schedule

Players Mentioned

13

Kasey Bretones

G
/ Women's Basketball
1

Taylor Derkack

G
/ Women's Basketball
4

Lilly Ferguson

G
/ Women's Basketball
44

Stefanie Kulesza

G
/ Women's Basketball
23

Momo LaClair

G
/ Women's Basketball
10

Yahmani McKayle

G
/ Women's Basketball
2

Chinenye Odenigbo

C
/ Women's Basketball
11

Megan Olbrys

F
/ Women's Basketball
24

Allie Palmieri

G
/ Women's Basketball
30

Jess Ross

F
/ Women's Basketball

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