University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
13-4,5-2MAC
Ball State
15-4,7-0MAC
Women's Basketball Falls To Ball State, 78-60
January 21, 2026 | Women's Basketball
MUNCIE, Ind. -- University of Massachusetts women's basketball (13-4, 5-2 MAC) fell to Ball State (15-4, 7-0 MAC), 78-60, during a Wednesday night matchup at Worthen Arena.
After a strong first half for the Minutewomen, highlighted by 14 points from Yahmani McKayle on a blistering 6-8 from the field along with four assists and Allie Palmieri adding 11 with three triples; with Massachusetts heading into the break with a 39-33 lead, a second half Cardinal surge proved to be too much for UMass.
UMass shot just 20 percent in the second half, will Ball State shooting a red-hot 59.3 percent clip.
In the effort, McKayle fueled the offensive unit with a game-high 20 points, along with five assists and two steals. Palmieri chipped in 14 points and three rebounds, and Lilly Ferguson, making her third-straight start, registered 10 points and five rebounds.
As a unit, the Minutewomen nabbed 32 rebounds, dished out 12 assists and swiped nine steals.
Breaking Down The Action
- Yahmani McKayle netted the first points for the Minutewomen, knocking down a jumper at 8:00 to tie the game at 2-2.
- Following a Lilly Ferguson fast break finish at 7:22, Ayanna Franks buried a deep triple to put UMass ahead 7-3 with 6:34 to go in the first.
- Allie Palmieri's jumper at 4:41 hit every part of the rim before dropping in, stopping a breif 8-0 Ball State run to bring Massachusetts back within two, trailing 9-11.
- Palmieri connected on her first triple of the contest on the ensuing possession at 4:00, keeping UMass down two, 14-12.
- Jess Ross knotted the game at 19 after burying a triple from the top of the key at 1:28, sparking a 9-0 Minutewomen run over 1:20 of gametime, putting UMass up 25-19 with 0:42 left in the first.
- Palmieri continued her hot start, knocking down a pair of triples including a step-back from the right wing, extending the Minutewomen to double-digits, leading 31-21 with 7:39 left in the half.
- McKayle hushed a 7-0 Cardinal run with a stepback jumper of her own at 4:04 to put UMass up 33-28, then making a pullup transition jumper to bring her point total to 14 on the half with 1:21 left to play.
- Franks finished around a defender as the second quarter buzzer sounded, putting Massachusetts up 39-33 at the half.
- Following a 6-0 Ball State run over the first two minutes of the third quarter, McKayle muscled her way to the free throw line, connecting on both at 7:54 to keep UMass ahead 41-39.
- UMass registered just two made baskets over the final 7:07 of the third quarter, heading into the final frame down 10, 57-47.
- Palmieri finished off a second chance opportunity at the rim to open the fourth quarter, cutting the Cardinal lead to 57-49 at 9:18.
- Following a 7-0 Ball State run, Megan Olbrys found a cutting Ferguson for an easy two, making the contest 64-51 in favor of Ball State at 6:41.
- The Minutewomen went the next five minutes of game action without another basket, with Ferguson cutting the streak with a finish through contact to make the game 74-58 with 1:37 to play.
- A reverse layup by McKayle would be the last basket UMass recorded in the game at 0:57, falling 78-60.
By the Numbers
3: Minutewomen recorded double-digit points: Yahmani McKayle (20), Allie Palmieri (14) and Lilly Ferguson (10)12: Minutewomen dished out 12 assists
20: Yahmani McKayle's game-high points
32: Total Minutewomen rebounds
Up Next
The Minutewomen return home for a conference matchup against Bowling Green on Sunday, January 25, at 4:00 p.m., on CBSSN, in Amherst, Mass. Links and live updates available at umassathletics.com or @UMassWBB on X (Twitter).
