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University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
8-1,0-0MAC
Florida Atlantic University
5-6,0-0American
Minutewomen Soar Past The Owls In FIU Holiday Classic
December 19, 2025 | Women's Basketball
Olbrys added 18 points and eight rebounds in the opening day of the tournament
Miami, Fla. -- University of Massachusetts women's basketball (8-1, 0-0 MAC) defeated Florida Atlantic (5-6, 0-0 American), 66-50, during a sunshine state showdown Friday afternoon at Ocean Bank Convocation Center.
From opening tip until the final buzzer, the Minutewomen dominated the Owls. UMass came out the gates scorching, racing out to a 12-2 first quarter and never falling behind in a game where it led by over 10 for the rest of the matchup. Massachusetts led by as much as 30 early in the final quarter.
Senior Forward Megan Olbrys led all scorers on the day with 18 points. Olbrys tallied eight rebounds and shot 83% from the line. Sophomore Guard Yahmani McKayle added 11 points and two steals during the contest, and Sophomore Forward Jess Ross scored a career high seven points.
Breaking Down The Action
- The Minutewomen started the action on fire, going on a 12-2 run to start the first quarter.
- Olbrys got sent to the line and added a free throw with less than two minutes left.
- McKayle finished out the first with a jumper from beyond the arc, finishing the quarter with UMass ahead, 16-6.
- After a three-minute scoring drought in the second quarter, Olbrys capitalized by collecting her own miss and finishing through contact with 7:05 remaing in the half.
- Nine seconds later, McKayle nabbed a steal and took it to the paint in a fast break.
- Olbrys used the glass from the top of the arc, banking in a triple and breaking into double-digit points with 10 with 6:54 left in the second.
- The Minutewomen used that momentum to finishing the half on a 12-0 run, leading 35-18 at the break.
- Olbrys opened the second half with a layup in the first 30 seconds.
- The Minutewomen went on a 16-4 run to finish the third quarter, 54-31.
- Aiyanna Perkins started the final quarter with a free throw.
- A minute of game later, Ross added two with a layup in the paint after a beautiful inside feed from Perkins.
- Anya George got on the board with 7:09 left in the game after knocking down a pair of free throws.
- Ross finished at the rim through a foul, converting the and-one and recording a new career-high seven points.
- Brooke Pulpi snagged an offensive rebound, sending it to Leah Bullard for a second-chance layup
- FAU went on an 16-0 run to make a comeback but could not overcome the 30-point lead.
- George cut the FAU run with a pair of free throws in the last 30 seconds to end the game, 66-50.
By The Numbers
2: Two Minutewomen tallied double-digit points- Olbrys (18), McKayle (11).
7: The Minutewomen went on a 7-0 run in 35 seconds in the third quarter.
12: The longest run the Minutewomen went on, 12-0.
18: Olbrys tallied the most points on the day with 18.
30: The Minutewomen's largest lead of the night, recorded at 5:27 in the fourth quarter
Up Next
- The Minutewomen will compete in the second leg of the FIU Holiday Classic with a matchup against Youngstown State on Saturday, December 20, at 1:30 p.m., on ESPN+, in Miami.
- Links and live updates available at umassathletics.com or @UMassWBB on X (Twitter).
