University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
16-4,8-2MAC
Eastern Michigan
10-11,4-7MAC
Minutewomen Soar Past The Eagles, 75-60
February 04, 2026 | Women's Basketball
AMHERST, Mass. -- University of Massachusetts women's basketball (16-4,8-2 MAC) defeated Eastern Michigan (10-11, 4-7 MAC), 75-60, during a Wednesday night matchup at the Mullins Center.
The Minutewomen took control from the start, going on a 17-0 run to start the first quarter, maintaining a 20-point lead throughout the matchup until the final quarter. Women's basketball continues to remain undefeated at home, at 9-0.
Graduate guard Allie Palmieri collected 18 points and three rebounds in the matchup on an efficient 6-10 shooting from the field and 3-6 from behind the arc. Three other Minutewomen recorded double-digit points during the night with Megan Olbrys (15), Ayanna Franks (14) and Yahmani McKayle (11) all capitalizing in the win against the Eagles.
Franks also added a career-high seven assists.
Defensively, the Minutewomen made things difficult for the Eagles, holding Eastern Michigan to just five points in the opening frame and forced 20 turnovers.
Breaking Down The Action
- Chinenye Odenigbo netted the first points for the Minutewomen, connecting on a short hook to make the score 2-0 at 9:31.
- Ayanna Franks finished through contact at the rim, extending the Minutewomen run to 9-0 with 5:43 remaining in the first.
- Allie Palmieri and Aiyanna Perkins drained back-to-back triples from the wing to push the UMass run to 15-0, with 4:01 to go in the first.
- After a brief 5-0 run got the Eagles on the board, Yahmani McKayle hit a turnaround fadeaway jumper and Palmieri connected on a pair of free throws at 0:59 to bring UMass ahead 21-5.
- Megan Olbrys rose over her defender and hit nothing but string on a baseline jumper at the start of the second quarter and finished in the paint on the ensuing possession at 8:51 to put Massachusetts up 26-8.
- Palmieri snuck around a pair of Eastern Michigan defenders to free up a wide-open layup, putting UMass up 30-10 with 6:37 left in the half.
- McKayle connected on her first trey of the night from the right wing following a beautiful feed from Palmieri, pushing the Minutewomen to lead 33-10 at 6:02.
- Olbrys threaded the needle to Ayanna Franks for an easy two, keeping UMass ahead 42-16 at 1:51.
- McKayle finished a fast break layup to give the Minutewomen a 44-21 lead with 0:07, a lead UMass held onto until the break.
- Palmieri connected on a step back three at 7:07 in the third quarter to balloon the Minutewomen lead to 52-25.
- A Palmieri free throw at 0:16 in the third stopped an 11-0 Eagles lead, bringing the contest to 59-44 in favor of the Minutewomen.
- Franks putback a Perkins miss at 8:13 to extend the UMass lead to 65-46.
- Perkins collected a Ferguson miss and finished through contact, converting the and-one opportunity to put Massachusetts back on top by 20, 69-48, with 6:42 left to play in the game.
- Despite a late Eastern Michigan surge, the Minutewomen's lead was too much to overcome as UMass secured a 75-60 victory.
By the Numbers
4: Four Minutewomen had double-digit points – Palmieri (18), Olbrys (15), Franks (14), and McKayle (11).
5: UMass held the Eagles to five points in the first quarter.
17: The Minutewomens longest run, going to 17-0 to start the first quarter.
27: Largest Minutewomen lead in the contest.
39: Total rebounds, the Minutewomen snagged in the contest, including 17 offensive.
Up Next
The Minutewomen stay home for the second leg of the MAC-Sun Belt Challenge, playing host to James Madison on Sunday, February 8, at 12:00 p.m. on ESPN+ in Amherst, Mass. Links and live updates available at umassathletics.com or @UMassWBB on X (Twitter).
