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University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
20-6,12-3MAC
Kent State
13-14,7-8MAC
Minutewomen Dash Past Golden Flashes, 66-56
February 25, 2026 | Women's Basketball
Two Minutewomen had double-digit rebounds
AMHERST, Mass. – Massachusetts women's basketball (20-6, 12-3 MAC) defeated Kent State (13-14, 7-8), 66-56, on a Saturday afternoon tilt at Mullins Center. The Minutewomen used a strong finish and two players with double-digit rebounds to secure a gritty victory.
Junior center Chinenye Odenigbo and senior Lilly Ferguson each had 10 rebounds in the contest, with Odenigbo securing her first career double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds. Megan Olbrys chipped in 10 points and nine rebounds, narrowling securing her third straight double-double.
Yahmani McKayle tallied the most points for the Minutewomen with 17 points. McKayle also had seven assists and a steal.
The Minutwomen held Kent State to just 25.8 percent from the field, the second-lowest field goal percentage for the Gold Flashes this season. The total is also the lowest the Minutewomen have allowed this season.
Breaking Down the Action
- Allie Palmieri netted the first points for the Minutewomen, knocking down a triple to give UMass an early 3-0 lead at 9:30.
- Yahmani McKayle finished at the rim and Megan Olbrys converted a pair of free throws at 8:11 to extend the UMass lead to 7-3 in favor of Massachusetts.
- Palmieri turned defense into instant offense, going coast-to-coast and finishing off a layup to give the Minutewomen an 11-5 lead at 6:26.
- Kent State rattled off a 6-1 run off a three, layup and free throw to cut the game to a 12-11 UMass lead at 5:13.
- Lilly Ferguson collected a missed UMass shot and kicked out to Aiyanna Perkins who buried a three from the left wing to make the score 17-11 at 2:46.
- The Golden Flashes tied the game at 17 all with a 4-0 run to open the second quarter, before Ferguson finished off a layup at 7:46 to regain the lead for UMass, 19-17.
- McKayle snapped a near three-minute stalemate between the programs with a jumper at 4:09 to extend the UMass lead to 23-17.
- Odenigbo connected on a pair of free throws at 1:19 pushing the Massachusetts lead to 27-21.
- Kent State recorded four points to end the first half, cutting the deficit to 27-25 in favor of the Minutewomen at the break.
- The Golden Flashes tied the game at 27 to open the second half with a layup at 9:48.
- The Minutewomen worked a 6-2 run from 8:53 to 8:03 in the third quarter, highlighted by an Olbrys layup and steal on the ensuing possession to extend the Massachusetts lead to 33-29.
- McKayle slithered through the lane and finished at the rim at 3:43 in the third to put UMass ahead 38-35.
- The Minutewomen worked two offensive rebounds, one from Ferguson and another from Franks, with Franks getting to the line and making both free throws to put UMass ahead, 44-37 at 1:29 in the third.
- An Olbrys screen allowed for a wide open McKayle layup at 9:31 in the final quarter to push Massachusetts ahead 47-41.
- Franks scored on consecutive possesions and found Olbrys on the block for the next six points for the Minutewomen, giving the Minutewomen a 55-46 lead at 6:56 in the fourth.
- Odenigbo finished through contact at the rim and McKayle hit a midrange jumper with 4:41left in the contest to give UMass a 59-48 lead.
- McKayle hit a triple from the top of the key to extend the Minutewomen lead to 62-50 with 3:32 left to play.
- Franks hit Odenigbo underneath for an easy two at 2:11, putting Odenigbo in double figures and securing her first career double-double, also giving the Minutewomen a 64-51 lead.
- Palmieri finished a layup with 22 seconds left to cement the Minutewomen's 66-56 victory.
By The Numbers:
2: Chinenye Odenigbo and Lilly Ferguson both collected 10 rebounds.
4: Four Minutewomen collected double-digit points in the contest—McKayle (17), Odenigbo (11), Franks (11), and Olbrys (10)
8: The longest run the Minutewomen went on, 8-0 in the second quarter
13: The Minutewomen had the largest lead on the night at 13, with 2:11 in the final frame
Up Next
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The Minutewomen return to the road to Kalamazoo, Mich. to face the Broncos on Feb. 28 for second matchup against Western Michigan.
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The game will be streamed on ESPN+ with links and live updates available at umassathletics.com or @UMassWBB on X (Twitter)
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