Women's Hoops Holds Off Central Michigan For 74-72 Home Victory

AMHERST, Mass. -- University of Massachusetts women's basketball (11-3, 3-1 MAC) defeated Central Michigan (9-6, 3-2 MAC), 74-72, during a Saturday afternoon matchup at Mullins Center.

Key shooting down the stretch by Yahmani McKayle kept the game out of reach for the Chippewas, as the Queens, N.Y. native scored 14 points in the fourth quarter alone. She connected on a teardrop floater from the lane to essentially ice the game for the Minutewomen, putting UMass up two possessions, 72-67 with 21 seconds remaining.

Other than McKayle's team-high 18 points and nine assists, Ayanna Franks added 16 points and five rebounds on an efficient 6-13 shooting from the field. Megan Olbrys and Allie Palmieri each chipped in 11 points, while Lilly Ferguson snagged 11 rebounds (eight offensive).

As a unit, the Minutewomen grabbed 41 rebounds, 19 assists and four blocks.

Breaking Down The Action

Following a rejection from Chinenye Odenigbo on the defensive end, Olbrys netted the first points for the Minutewomen, backing down her opponent inside and finishing with her right to make the game 2-0 with 9:47 left in the first.
Franks hit a pull up jumper from the left free throw line extended, putting UMass up 6-3 with 6:09 to go in the first.
Franks found the bottom of the net from the right wing, putting Massachusetts up 16-7 with 1:12 left in the first quarter.
Franks hit her second consecutive triple to push the Minutewomen's lead to double figures, 19-7, as well as put her at 10 points on the afternoon with 9:40 remaining in the half.
Aiyanna Perkins turned strong defense into instant offense, picking off a pass and hitting Odenigbo in the paint for the easy layup, giving the Minutewomen a 25-8 lead with 7:18 remaining in the half.
McKayle hit a cutting Perkins on a fast break, with Perkins connecting on a left-handed layup keeping the Minutewomen ahead, 27-13, with 5:11 to go.
After hitting a jumper of her own, Perkins flipped a chest pass to Jess Ross on the left wing, who hit nothing but net from behind the arc, putting UMass up 35-17 with 0:44 left in the half.
Olbrys backed her way into a layup to open the second half scoring, giving the Minutewomen a 37-19 lead 22 seconds into the third.
Perkins connected with Ferguson who nailed a baseline jumper keeping the Minutewomen ahead, 42-29, with over five minutes left in the third.
Ferguson connected again from the same spot for her second consecutive bucket, making the contest 46-35 with 3:17 to play in the third.
Odenigbo finished at the basket and sent back her second opponent shot of the night to get Palmieri open on the break, giving UMass a 48-39 lead with 1:53 remaining in the third.
McKayle converted at the free throw line to keep Massachusetts on top, 52-49 with 8:50 left in the game.
Palmieri found Odenigbo underneath for an easy finish, making the UMass lead five, 54-49, with 8:17 remaining in the contest.
McKayle hit a deep triple from the top of the key to keep the game at two possesions for the Minutewomen, 60-56, then later swung to a wide-open Franks who netted her third triple of the night, putting UMass ahead 67-58 with 4:29 to go.
McKayle converted three of four free throws to keep the lead with the Minutewomen, clinging to a 70-61 lead with a minute to play.
The Chippewas went on a 6-0 run over 40 seconds of game time to pull within three, 70-67, with 44 seconds to play.
McKayle flashed through the lane and hit a floater with 21 seconds to go, later connecting on two free throws to ice the game for the Minutewomen, securing a 74-72 victory.

By the Numbers

5: How many triples the Minutewomen netted.
8: Lilly Ferguson's offenisive rebound total.
18: Yahmani McKayle's team-leading point total.
19: The Minutewomen dished out 19 assists.
41: How many boards the Minutewomen nabbed.

Up Next

The Minutewomen return home for a conference matchup against Akron on Saturday, January 14, at 11:00 a.m., on ESPN+, in Amherst, Mass. Links and live updates available at umassathletics.com or @UMassWBB on X (Twitter).

Scoreboard