Minutewomen To Continue Conference Play Against Kent State

University of Massachusetts Women's Basketball Notes & Information
Matchup	Massachusetts (9-2, 1-0 MAC) vs Kent State (5-8, 0-2 MAC)
Date \| Time	Jan. 3, 2026 \| 3:30 p.m.
Location	Kent, Ohio \| Memorial Athletic and Convocation Center
Game Notes	Massachusetts \| Kent State
Watch	ESPN+
Live Stats	SideArm Stats
Twitter	@UMassWBB
Instagram	@umasswbb
Facebook	UMass Women's Basketball

AMHERST, Mass. –University of Massachusetts women's basketball (9-2) travels to Kent Ohio, for a Saturday matchup against Kent State (5-8) at 3:30 on ESPN+. Links and live updates available at umassathletics.com or @UMassWBB on X (Twitter).

THE MATCHUP

Massachusetts and Kent State will meet for the sixth time in program history, with the Minutewomen holding a 4-1 lead in the all-time series history.
The two teams first met on Dec. 11, 1996 as the Golden Flashes narrowly came out on top 53-51 on the day.
UMass and Kent State last met on Nov. 27, 2021 in the Minutewomen's second of three consecutive games during the Gulf Coast Showcase, with Massachusetts claiming a 72-64 victory.

LAST TIME OUT

After a back-and-forth first quarter, the Minutewomen used a 22-0 run in the second quarter to pull ahead of the Broncos, and stayed on top throughout the match.
Junior center Chineye Odenigbo stood out for the Minutewomen, matching her career-high 14 points, and nabbing five rebounds and a steal in the contest.
Senior Forward Megan Olbrys also made an impact on the court against the Broncos, with 12 points, three rebounds and five assists.
First-years Eva Hannon and Brooke Pulpi both netted their first career field goals, with Hannon connecting on a baseline jumper and Pulpi knocking down a top-of-the-key triple.

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 54.1 points per game, good for best in the MAC and 26th in the country.
The team ranks best in the MAC for field goal percentage defense (.343) and scoring margin (14.9).
The team also ranks second in the MAC in blocked shots per game (3.6), assist/turnover ratio (1.07), assists per game (17.2)and steals per game (10.7).

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 continue on the road with a conference contest against Miami on Wednesday, January 7, in Miami, Ohio.
The game will be streamed on ESPN+ with links and live updates available at umassathletics.com or @UMassWBB on X (Twitter).

Scoreboard

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Leah Bullard

Ayanna Franks

Anya George

Eva Hannon

Megan Olbrys

Aiyanna Perkins

Brooke Pulpi