.png&type=webp)
University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
18-5,10-2MAC
Miami (OH)
20-5,11-1MAC
Minutewomen Soar Past RedHawks, 65-64
February 14, 2026 | Women's Basketball
AMHERST, Mass. – Massachusetts women's basketball (18-5, 10-2 MAC) broke Miami RedHawks (20-5, 11-1) hearts, 65-64, in a Valentines Day tilt at the Mullins Center.
The Minutewomen handed Miami (OH) its first conference basketball loss of the season, including men's.
Junior Center Chinenye Odenigbo was a principal role for the Minutewomen, going 7-8 from the field for 14 points, three rebounds, and a steal. Odengibo matched her career-high in points for the second time this season.
Graduate Guard Allie Palmieri also commanded the floor with 15 points and five defensive rebounds.
The Minutewomen were competitive on the defensive end, with Senior Forward Megan Olbrys drawing a charge early in the first. The Minutewomen nabbed 28 defensive rebounds in the effort, and drew a 10 second violation from the RedHawks.
Breaking Down the Action
- Megan Olbrys started the scoring for the Minutewomen, hitting a left-handed post hook on the game's opening possession to give UMass a 2-0 lead at 9:44.
- Chinenye Odenigbo put back an Ayanna Franks miss under the basket to knot the game up at 4-4 at 6:25.
- Palmieri finished a jumper through contact and converted the and-one opportunity to give the Minutewomen a 7-4 lead at 4:58.
- Over the next five minutes of action, Miami went on a 4-0 run to take an 8-7 lead at the end of the first.
- Palmieri and Aiyanna Perkins scored on consecutive possessions to give UMass an 11-10 lead at 7:46 in the second quarter.
- Olbrys beat the shot clock at the 4:27 mark in the second with a hook shot to put the Minutewomen up 15-14.
- Perkins buried a second chance triple from the left wing to put the Minutewomen up 18-15 with 2:06 remaining in the half.
- Olbrys connected on a triple of her own from the top of the key to extend the Minutewomen lead to 23-18 at 0:22, a lead they would hold until the break.
- Olbrys opened the second half with layup through contact to extend the Minutewomen lead to 25-18 at 9:31.
- Odenigbo circled around her defender under the basket and finished a referse layup at 9:11 to put UMass ahead 27-18.
- McKayle responded to an Amber Tretter triple with a trey of her own, extending the Minutewomen lead to 30-21 at 8:37.
- McKayle hit another triple to beat the shot clock at 6:29 to give the Minutewomen a 36-29 lead.
- McKayle hit a pair of free throws to stop a 9-0 RedHawks run at 0:11 in the third to bring the score to 43-40.
- Odenigbo and McKayle cut the deficit to just one, 47-46, with 6:43 left in the contest after consecutive layups.
- Palmieri connected on a three-pointer to knot the game at 49 at 5:47 remaining in the game.
- Franks banked in a top of the key three to give UMass a 54-51 lead at 4:38.
- Palmieri knocked down a midrange jumper at 1:25 to bring UMass within one, 60-61.
- Odenigbo hit a hook shot at 0:42 to make the score 62-61 in favor of the Minutewomen.
- Tretter finished an and-one at 0:04 left in the game to give the RedHawks 64-63 lead.
- Olbrys made a run down the court to make a layup in the final seconds, giving the Minutewomen and one point lead to end the game, 65-64.
By The Numbers
- 4: Three Minutewomen tallied double digit points – Palmieri (15), Odenigbo (14), Olbrys (12), and McKayle (12).
- 9: The Minutewomens largest lead, recorded at 8:37 in the third.
- 14: Chinenye Odenigbo recorded her season-high 14 points.
- 81: The Minutewomen shot 81.8% from the line going 9-11, a season-high in free throw percentage.
Up Next
The Minutewomen stay home for a matchup against conference foe Toledo on Wednesday, Feb. 18 at 6:00 p.m. The game will be streamed on ESPN+ with links and live updates available at umassathletics.com or @UMassWBB on X (Twitter)
