Minutewomen Set to Host Northeastern on Thursday Night

University of Massachusetts Women's Basketball Notes & Information
Matchup	Massachusetts vs. Northeastern
Date \| Time	Dec. 5 \| 6:00 p.m. ET
Location	Mullins Center \| Amherst, Mass.
Twitter	@UMassWBB
Instagram	@umasswbb
Facebook	UMass Women's Basketball

AMHERST, Mass. – The University of Massachusetts women's basketball program (2-5, 0-0 A-10) is set for a matchup with Northeastern (1-6, 0-0 CAA) on Thursday, Dec. 5 at the Mullins Center. Tip-off is scheduled for 6:00 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 Northeastern are set to play in their twelfth matchup, dating back to a 77-61 home victory in the 2002-03 season.
The Huskies have defeated Massachusetts in their last six contests, with Massachusetts falling just short in a 78-74 loss in Boston last season.
The Minutewomen look to further advance their 3-2 advantage on the home court, with their last home victory over the Huskies coming in the 2008-09 season.

LAST TIME OUT

The Minutewomen fell to Siena in a narrow 57-53 defeat. Junior forward Megan Olbrys led the scoring in the first quarter, scoring 6 of the 8 points for the Minutewomen.
Olbrys tallied a career-high 21 points, as well as 11 rebounds, and went 9-10 from the field. Freshman point guard, Yahmani McKayle, scored 13 points, as well as 2 steals and 2 rebounds added to the stat sheet.
Sophomore center, Chineye Odenigbo, totaled 7 rebounds and went 2-2 at the free throw line.

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 in 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 Hanover, New Hampshire to play Dartmouth College in their next game on Sunday, Dec. 8. Tipoff is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.
The game will be broadcast on ESPN+ with links and live updates available at umassathletics.com or @UMassWBB on X (Twitter).

Scoreboard

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Players Mentioned

Kasey Bretones

Taylor Derkack

Stefanie Kulesza

Momo LaClair

Yahmani McKayle

Chinenye Odenigbo

Chinenye Odenigbo

Megan Olbrys

Allie Palmieri

Jess Ross

Scoreboard

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