University of Massachusets Athletics
Saturday, January 17
Buffalo, N.Y.
1:00 p.m.
University of Massachusetts
at
Buffalo
January 15, 2026 | Women's Basketball
| University of Massachusetts Women's Basketball Notes & Information | |
| Matchup | Massachusetts (12-3, 4-1 MAC) vs Buffalo (2-14, 0-5 MAC) |
| Date | Time | Jan. 17, 2026 | 1:00 p.m. |
| Location | Buffalo N.Y. | Alumni Arena |
| Game Notes | Massachusetts | Buffalo |
| Watch | ESPN+ |
| Live Stats | SideArm Stats |
| @UMassWBB | |
| @umasswbb | |
| UMass Women's Basketball | |
AMHERST, Mass. – University of Massachusetts women's basketball (12-3) travels to Buffalo, N.Y. for a Saturday afternoon matchup against Buffalo (2-14) at 11:00 a.m. at Alumni Arena on ESPN+. Links and live updates available at umassathletics.com or @UMassWBB on X (Twitter).
THE MATCHUP
- Massachusetts and Buffalo will meet for the seventh time in program history, as the Bulls have a 4-2 advantage in the all-time series matchup.
- Buffalo holds the road series record at 3-1 overall.
- The teams first met on Jan. 23, 1992 with Buffalo taking a 63-53 victory on the day.
- The last meeting came on Mar. 23, 2025 when the Bulls outlasted UMass 84-82 in an overtime thriller in the second round of the WNIT.
- The last UMass win came on Dec. 22, 2007, with UMass claiming a 68- 60 victory behind double-doubles from Kate Mills and Pam Rosanio in the Mullins Center, marking the programs 100th victory at the arena.
LAST TIME OUT
- UMass defeated Akron, 82-68, during a Wednesday afternoon matchup at Mullins Center.
- The Minutewomen used a 28-point first quarter and three career-high performances to cruise past the Zips. In the absence of Chinenye Odenigbo, Jess Ross and Lilly Ferguson stepped up for UMass, each pouring in career high 13 points. Yahmani McKayle dished out a career-high 11 assists.
- Five Minutwomen reach double-figures, as Allie Palmieri, McKayle, Ross, Ferguson and Olbrys netted 16, 15, 13, 13 and 13, respectively. It marks the first time Jan. 29, 2025, that five Minutewomen scored in double figures.
- As a unit, UMass dished out 25 assists, nabbed 36 rebounds and buried eight triples in the contest, shooting an efficient 35-of-71 (.493) from the field and 8-of-24 from behind the arc (.333).
- 5,121 fans attended the contest, the largest home attendance since hosting UConn (6,005) back on December 11, 1997.
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 58.5 points per game, good for best in the MAC and 61st in the country.
- The team ranks best in the MAC for assist/turnover ratio (1.12), field goal percentage defense (.363), scoring defense (58.5), three point percentage defense (.270) and turnovers per game (15.2).
- The team also ranks second in the MAC in blocked shots per game (3.7), and third in turnover margin (3.73).
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 continue on the road with a conference contest against Ball State on Wednesday, January 21, in Muncie, Ind.
- 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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