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University of Massachusets Athletics
Wednesday, December 31
Amherst, Mass.
1:00 p.m.
University of Massachusetts
vs
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Western Michigan
Women's Hoops To Open Conference Play Against Western Michigan
December 29, 2025 | Women's Basketball
| University of Massachusetts Women's Basketball Notes & Information | |
| Matchup | Massachusetts (8-2, 0-0 MAC) vs Western Michigan (3-7, 0-0 MAC) |
| Date | Time | Dec. 31, 2025 | 1:00 p.m. |
| Location | Amherst, Mass. | Mullins Center |
| Game Notes | Massachusetts | Western Michigan |
| Watch | ESPN+ |
| Live Stats | SideArm Stats |
| @UMassWBB | |
| @umasswbb | |
| UMass Women's Basketball | |
AMHERST, Mass. – University of Massachusetts women's basketball (8-2) plays host in Amherst, Mass. for a Wednesday conference matchup against Western Michigan (3-7) at 1:00 p.m. on ESPN+. Links and live updates available at umassathletics.com or @UMassWBB on X (Twitter).
THE MATCHUP
- Massachusetts and Western Michigan will meet for the thrid time in program history, with the Broncos holding a 2-0 lead in the all-time series history.
- The Broncos hold the home series record at 1-0 overall.
- The two teams first met on Nov. 8, 2013 during the Minutewomen's season opener, as Western Michigan won 66-58 on the day.
- UMass and the Broncos last met during the 2014-15 season opener on Nov. 14, with Western Michigan securing a 63-41 victory
LAST TIME OUT
- The Minutewomen fell to Youngstown State, 72-69, in their second game of the FIU Holiday Classic in Miami after downing Florida Atlantic 66-50 a day prior.
- The Minutewomen nabbed 39 rebounds and dished 12 assists in the contest.
- The Minutewomen showed flashes of strength throughout the contest, shooting 42.9 percent from the field and knocking down eight triples, along with a strong defensive showing totaling five steals and five blocks. Despite clutch shooting from Yahmani McKayle down the stretch, the Penguins three-point barrage was too much to overcome.
- Sophomore Guard Yahmani McKayle led the Minutewomen with a strong showing, posting a career-high 25 points and five rebounds. Three other Minutewomen tallied double-digit points in the day game: Megan Olbrys (14), Allie Palmieri (13), and Ayanna Franks (11).
NEW FACES IN NEW PLACES
- The Minutewomen welcome six newcomers, featuring four freshmen.
- Massachusetts brings freshmen Anya George, Eva Hannon, Aiyanna Perkins and Brooke Pulpi into the mix for the 2025-26 season.
- Rhode Island transfer Ayanna Franks arrives to Amherst off a 3.1 points per game season, adding 1.6 rebounds in 10.7 minutes.
- Leah Bullard spent her first season at Oakland, averaging 2.1 points and 1.5 rebounds in 8.4 minutes of action.
OLBRYS ON THE RISE
- Senior Megan Olbrys is coming off an impressive season in the Atlantic 10 last year, leading the team with career-best averages in points (14.0), rebounds (8.2), and free throws per game (.786).
- Olbrys posted eight double-doubles during the 2024-25 campaign and recorded a season-best 23 points against Loyola Chicago (2/9).
- The Norwood, Mass. native earned the A-10 Third Team All-Conference honors at the end of the 2024-25 season and received the 25-player watchlist for the 2026 Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year Award to start the 2025-26 season.
NOTABLE NUMBERS
- UMass is holding opponents to 55.5 points per game, good for best in the MAC and 39th in the country.
- The team ranks best in the MAC for field goal percentage defense (.349) and scoring margin (13.1). The team also ranks second in the MAC in blocked shots per game (3.8) as well as assist/turnover ratio (1.02), and third in steals per game (10.6) and assists per game (16.7).
YEAR THREE UNDER COACH LEFLAR
- Massachusetts women's basketball enters its third season under Head Coach Mike Leflar in 2025-26 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, and 2025
- 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 return to the road for a conference matchup against Kent State on Saturday, Jan. 3, in Kent, Ohio.
- The game will be streamed on ESPN+ with links and live updates available at umassathletics.com or @UMassWBB on X (Twitter).
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/ Women's BasketballUMass Women's Basketball Runs Over Other Mass Teams.
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