Minutewomen Face Dukes In Second Leg Of MAC-SBC Challenge

University of Massachusetts Women's Basketball Notes & Information
Matchup	Massachusetts (16-4, 8-2 MAC) vs James Madison (17-8, 9-4 SBC)
Date \| Time	Feb. 8, 2026 \| 12:00 p.m.
Location	Amherst, Mass. \| Mullins Center
Game Notes	Massachusetts \| James Madison
Watch	C BSSN
Live Stats	SideArm Stats
Twitter	@UMassWBB
Instagram	@umasswbb
Facebook	UMass Women's Basketball

AMHERST, Mass. – University of Massachusetts women's basketball (16-4) continues to defend home court against James Madison (17-8) in second leg of the MAC-SBC challenege at 12:00 p.m. on CBSSN in Amherst, Mass. at the Mullins Center. Links and live updates available at umassathletics.com or @UMassWBB on X (Twitter).

THE MATCHUP

Massachusetts and James Madison will meet for the third time in program history, as the Dukes have a 2-0 advantage in the all-time series matchup.
The teams first matchup came on Dec. 8, 2000 with James Madison taking a 65-72 victory in Amherst.
The programs last met on Nov. 29, 2001, with the Dukes taking a 49-56 victory, the Minutewomen look to come back and take the win in the Mullins Center.

LAST TIME OUT

UMass defeated Eastern Michigan, 75-60, during a Wednesday night matchup at the Mullins Center.
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.

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 dishing out 16.7 assists per game, good for third in the MAC and 39th in the country.
The team ranks third in the MAC in turnovers per game (19). The Minutewomen also rank third in assists per game (16.7), scoring margin (9.6) and blocks per game (3.35) and fourth in rebounds per game (39.2).

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.

UP NEXT

The Minutewomen travel to DeKalb, Ill. to meet the Huskies on Tuesday, Feb. 10 for matchup against Northern Illinois.
The game will be streamed on ESPN+ with links and live updates available at umassathletics.com or @UMassWBB on X (Twitter)

Scoreboard

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Players Mentioned

Leah Bullard

Ayanna Franks

Anya George

Eva Hannon

Yahmani McKayle

Megan Olbrys

Allie Palmieri

Aiyanna Perkins

Brooke Pulpi