.png&type=webp)
University of Massachusets Athletics
Saturday, January 10
Amherst, Mass.
1:00 p.m.
University of Massachusetts
vs
Central Michigan
Minutewomen Return Home For Saturday Matchup Against Central Michigan
January 09, 2026 | Women's Basketball
| University of Massachusetts Women's Basketball Notes & Information | |
| Matchup | Massachusetts (10-3, 2-1 MAC) vs Central Michigan (9-5, 3-1 MAC) |
| Date | Time | Jan. 10, 2026 | 1:00 p.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 (10-3) returns home to the Mullins Center, for a Saturday afternoon matchup against Central Michigan (9-5) at 1:00 p.m. on ESPN+. Links and live updates available at umassathletics.com or @UMassWBB on X (Twitter).
THE MATCHUP
- Massachusetts and Central Michigan will meet for the third time in program history,with the Chippewas holding a 2-0 lead in the all-time series history.
- The two teams first met on Nov. 10, 2013 as the Minutewomen fell to the Chippewas 105-61 on the day.
- UMass and Central Michigan last met on Nov. 16, 2014, with the Chippewas claiming a 72-70 victory.
LAST TIME OUT
- After a strong first quarter for the Minutewomen, the RedHawks caught fire, using a 17-0 run over a three-and-a-half minute stretch that included five triples to pull ahead to a lead that, despite UMass' best efforts, proved to be too much.
- Allie Palmieri carried the offensive unit for the Minutewomen, putting up 18 points on 7-14 shooting to go along with two rebounds and two steals.
- Megan Olbrys secured her third double-double of the season with 13 points and rebounds and Chinenye Odenigbo posted double-digit points in her third straight contest with 11.
- As a unit, UMass pulled down 39 boards, dished out 12 assists and had six steals.
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 56.7 points per game, good for best in the MAC and 41st in the country.
- The team ranks best in the MAC for field goal percentage defense (.354) and second in scoring margin (12.1).
- The team also ranks second in the MAC in blocked shots per game (3.8), assist/turnover ratio (1.02), and third in steals per game (10.5) and third in assists per game (16.2).
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.
- The Minutewomen continue at home with a conference contest against Akroncon 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)
Players Mentioned
F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
C
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballUMass WBB | Western Michigan Recap 12.31.25
Friday, January 02
UMass WBB | Post Game Press Conference vs. Western Michigan | 12.31.25
Wednesday, December 31
UMass WBB | Broadcast Highlights vs Western Michigan | 12.31.25
Wednesday, December 31
UMass Women's Basketball Runs Over Other Mass Teams.
Monday, December 15