Comeback Effort Falls Short as Minutewomen Drop Season Opener to Harvard

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – The University of Massachusetts women's basketball program (0-1, 0-0 A-10) dropped a 71-58 decision in its 2024-25 season opener to Harvard (1-0, 0-0 IVY) on the road Monday night.

The Massachusetts defense showed flashes of grit throughout the 40 minutes of action, holding the Crimson to 35.6% from the field and 30.8% from deep in addition to winning the rebounding battle 43-35. However, UMass was unable to overcome the 34-16 turnover disadvantage as the comeback effort fell short in the final quarter of play.

Allie Palmieri led the Minutewomen in scoring on her Massachusetts debut, adding in 15 points on 3-of-5 shooting form behind the arc. The Turnbull, Conn. guard also tallied five rebounds, three assists, and two steals on the night.

Megan Olbrys put together a career night, recording new bests in rebounds (13), points (8), assists (5), steals (2), and blocks (2). The junior forward helped spark the Minutewomen's second-half comeback that brought the game within three points with 1:47 left in the fourth quarter.

Breaking Down the Action

Following an administrative technical foul on Harvard, Massachusetts opened the game on a 7-0 run.
The Crimson answered with a 12-0 run of its own, with Aleah Sorrentino scoring on the fastbreak to end Harvard's surge with 5:02 left in the quarter.
Stefanie Kulesza recorded her second steal of the quarter, finishing on the other end to cut the lead to one.
Baskets from Lilly Ferguson and Chinenye Odenigbo to close the opening 10 minutes gave Massachusetts a 15-12 lead heading into the second quarter.
UMass was unable to carry momentum into the next quarter, surrendering a 9-0 run as first half play resumed.
Aleah Sorrentino helped start the Minutewomen's response, hitting a midrange jumper after catching her defender flat-footed with a jab-step.
Massachusetts would enter the halftime break down 32-21 after Sorrentino hit another midrange jump shot.
After falling behind by 13 with 7:43 left in the third, UMass responded with one of its strongest stretches of the night.
Back-to-back baskets by Momo LaClair cut the lead to nine.
Megan Olbrys's second basket of the quarter would cut the lead to seven, forcing Harvard to call a timeout.
The Crimson would extend the lead back to 10 with 3:30 left in the quarter, but baskets by LaClair and Allie Palmieri brought UMass within six.
Massachusetts would head into the final quarter of play down 49-37 after another spark from the Harvard offense.
Olbrys continued to make an impact in the fourth quarter, as a quick 5-0 run between her and Palmieri forced another timeout by the Crimson just a minute and 24 seconds into the fourth.
Both sides would go back-and-forth, answering each other's attempt to shift momentum with UMass cutting the lead down to five before Harvard extended it to 10 once more.
A Palmieri three, in addition to baskets from Chinenye Odenigbo, Olbrys, and free throws by Yahmani McKayle cut the lead to three with just 1:47 left in regulation.
The comeback effort would fall short, with Harvard closing out the game on a 10-0 run.

Newcomer Notes

Four newcomers saw action on the evening, with Yahmani McKayle and Megan Olbrys both entering as starters.
McKayle led all newcomers with nine points, netting the first field goal of the game for her first career basket.
Aleah Sorrentino played just under 23 minutes of action, scoring eight points and grabbing three rebounds to go along with two steals.
Momo LaClair logged 23 minutes of action, going 3-of-3 from the field to help spark UMass's third-quarter run. The transfer guard finished with six points and three rebounds.

By The Numbers

43: Massachusetts won the rebounding battle 43-35.
35.6: The UMass defense held Harvard to just 35.6% from the field.
11: Olbrys led the team in rebounds (13), assists (5), blocks (2), and tied the team high in steals (2).
8: Eight Minutewomen found the scoring column in tonight's matchup, with six of the scorers reaching 5+ points.
53.5: UMass shot 53.5% from the field in the second half, holding Harvard to 37.1%.
3: Massachusetts cut a double-figure deficit to three points with 1:47 left in the fourth quarter.

UP NEXT

The Minutewomen host New Hampshire in their season home opener on Thursday, Nov. 7 at the Mullins Center. Tipoff is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.
The game will be broadcasted on ESPN+ with links and live updates available at umassathletics.com or @UMassWBB on X (Twitter).

Scoreboard