University of Massachusets Athletics
Wednesday, January 21
Muncie, Ind.
6:30 p.m.
University of Massachusetts
at
Ball State
Massachusetts Women's Hoops Set For MAC Heavyweight Matchup Against Ball State
January 19, 2026 | Women's Basketball
| University of Massachusetts Women's Basketball Notes & Information | |
| Matchup | Massachusetts (13-3, 5-1 MAC) vs Ball State (14-4, 6-0 MAC) |
| Date | Time | Jan. 21, 2026 | 6:30 p.m. |
| Location | Muncie, Ind. | Worthen Arena |
| Game Notes | Massachusetts | Ball State |
| Watch | ESPN+ |
| Live Stats | SideArm Stats |
| @UMassWBB | |
| @umasswbb | |
| UMass Women's Basketball | |
AMHERST, Mass. –University of Massachusetts women's basketball (13-3) travels to Muncie, Ind. for a Wednesday evening matchup against Ball State (14-4) at 6:30 p.m. at Worthen Arena on ESPN+. Links and live updates available at umassathletics.com or @UMassWBB on X (Twitter).
THE MATCHUP
- Massachusetts and Ball State will meet for the second time in program history, as the Cardinals have a 1-0 advantage in the all-time series matchup.
- The two programs have only met in a neutral site setting.
- The team's sole matchup came on Nov. 28, 2015 with Ball State taking an 81-54 victory on the day in the Minutewomen's second matchup of the Coors Classic hosted in Boulder, Colo. Despite a then career-high 11 points from Alyx Stiff including 3-4 shooting from behind the arc, the Cardinals hot shooting night (31-of-62 from the field, .500) was too much for Massachusetts to overcome.
LAST TIME OUT
- UMass defeated Buffalo 79-67 during a Saturday afternoon matchup at Alumni Arena.
- UMass used a 12-0 run to open the contest to secure its ninth double-dogit victory of the season. Senior Forward Megan Olbrys dominated in the interior on the day, with 19 points for the Minutewomen and grabbing a career-high with 16 rebounds. Olbrys secured her third double-double in the first half of the matchup, with 11 points and ten rebounds at the break.
- Ayanna Franks and Yahmani McKayle also saw a lot of action, with Franks recording 18 points and three steals and McKayle contributing 17 points and seven assists. Allie Palmieri also recorded double-digit points in the contest, with 11 points.
- As a unit, the Minutewomen dominated down low, nabbing a season-high 51 rebounds and scoring 40 points in the paint.
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 dishing out 20.5 assists per game, good for second in the MAC and 17th in the country.
- The team ranks best in the MAC for assist/turnover ratio (1.27), three point percentage defense (.262), rebound per game (43.50) and offensive rebounds per game (16.33). The team also ranks second in the MAC in field goal percentage defense (37.6).
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 home with a conference contest against Bowling Green on Sunday, January 25, in Amherst, Mass.
- The game will be available on CBSSN with links and live updates available at umassathletics.com or @UMassWBB on X (Twitter).
Players Mentioned
F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballUMass WBB | Broadcast Highlights vs Akron | 01.14.26
Wednesday, January 14
UMass WBB | Post Game Press Conference vs Akron | 01.14.26
Wednesday, January 14
UMass WBB | Broadcast Highlights vs. Central Michigan | 01.10.26
Saturday, January 10
UMass WBB | Post Game Press Conference vs. Central Michigan | 1.10.2026
Saturday, January 10