University of Massachusets Athletics
Wednesday, January 14
Amherst, Mass.
11:00 a.m.
University of Massachusetts
vs
Akron
Women's Basketball Stays Home For Conference Matchup Against Akron
January 12, 2026 | Women's Basketball
| University of Massachusetts Women's Basketball Notes & Information | |
| Matchup | Massachusetts (11-3, 3-1 MAC) vs Akron (3-13, 0-4 MAC) |
| Date | Time | Jan. 14, 2026 | 11:00 a.m. |
| Location | Amherst, Mass. | Mullins Center |
| Game Notes | Massachusetts | Central Michigan |
| Watch | ESPN+ |
| Live Stats | SideArm Stats |
| @UMassWBB | |
| @umasswbb | |
| UMass Women's Basketball | |
AMHERST, Mass. –University of Massachusetts women's basketball (11-3) stays home at the Mullins Center for a Saturday afternoon matchup against Central Michigan (3-13) at 11:00 a.m. on ESPN+. Links and live updates available at umassathletics.com or @UMassWBB on X (Twitter).
THE MATCHUP
- Massachusetts and Akron will meet for the first time in program history.
- When facing an opponent for the first time, UMass has an 85-100 record.
- Massachusetts last defeated a first-time opponent on December 19, 2025, crusing past Florida Atlantic, 66-50, in the first round of the FIU Holiday Classic.
- The last time UMass defeated multiple inaugural opponents was during the 2022-23 season, when the Minutewomen bested Arizona State (88-64), Drake (100-83), Loyola Chicago (76-59) and UAlbany (73-48).
- The Minutewomen also have yet to face MAC opponent Northern Illinois in program history.
LAST TIME OUT
- UMass defeated Central Michigan, 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.
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 holds opponents to 57.8 points per game, good for best in the MAC and 48th in the country.
- The team ranks best in the MAC for field goal percentage defense (.363) and third in scoring margin (11.4).
- The team also ranks second in the MAC in blocked shots per game (3.9), assist/turnover ratio (1.06), and fourth in steals per game (10.1) and third in assists per game (16.4).
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 with a conference contest against Buffalo on Wednesday, January 14, in Amherst, Mass.
- 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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