University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
16-5,8-2MAC
James Madison University
18-8,9-4Sun Belt
Minutewomen Fall To JMU In MAC-SBC Challenge
February 08, 2026 | Women's Basketball
Dukes Hand Minutewomen First Home Loss This Season
AMHERST, Mass. – Massachusetts women's basketball (16-5, 8-2 MAC) dropped 57-71, against the James Madison Dukes (18-8, 9-4 SBC) Sunday afternoon at the Mullins Center.
James Madison took control of the floor from the jump handing UMass its first home loss of the season, with guard Peyton McDaniels putting up 29 points for the Dukes.
Sophomore guard Yahmani McKayle and graduate forward Allie Palmieri were notable for the offensive contribution, each of them tallying 15 points in the matchup. Senior forward Megan Olbrys added career-high four steals, marking her fifth consecutive games having three or more steals. Lilly Ferguson chipped in a team-high seven boards and five assists.
The Minutewomen had significant defensive effort, with three Minutewomen drawing charging fouls in the contest.
Breaking Down the Action
- Chinenye Odenigbo started the scoring for the Minutewomen, netting the first four points for UMass in the paint to bring the score to 4-4 at 7:55.
- Following a pair of free throws from Yahmani McKayle, Megan Olbrys finished off a fast break opportunity down low, pulling UMass within one, 9-8, at 5:43.
- Following consecutive triples from the Dukes, Allie Palmieri finished off a pair of free throws at 1:44 to cut the deficit to 22-16.
- On the ensuing possession Palmieri connected a triple from the right wing at 1:21 to bring UMass within three, 22-19.
- After a 2:29 stalemate to open the second quarter, Ayanna Franks finished through heavy contact at 7:31 to make the score 25-21.
- McKayle hit nothing but net on a trey at 3:09 to bring UMass back within five, 31-26, and Palmieri added her second three pointer of the night on the ensuing possession.
- The Minutewomen run reached 9-0 as Aiyanna Perkins connected from the left corner at 1:04 to give UMass its first lead of the day, 32-31.
- JMU ended the half on consecutive layups to go into the lockerroom with a 35-32 lead.
- Odenigbo slipped a screen, and Franks found her cutting for an easy two to open the second half, pulling UMass within one, 35-34, at 9:41, and a McKayle layup gave the Minutewomen a 36-35 lead at 8:26.
- Jess Ross finished through contact to stop a 7-0 JMU run at 6:08 to make the contest 42-38.
- McKayle stopped an 11-0 JMU run with a layup at 0:54 in the third to bring the score to 53-40.
- Palmieri connected on her third three of the game from the corner to stop the bleeding for UMass, bringing the score to 62-45 at 7:49.
- Massachusetts went on a brief 4-0 run from 6:08 to 4:46 to bring the contest to 66-49.
- Despite a late 6-0 run, the deficit was too much to overcome as the Dukes took a 71-57 victory.
By The Numbers
3: Three Minutewomen drew defensive charges during the contest – Ferguson, Ross, and Franks.
4: Steals registered Olbrys
9: Largest run the Minutewomen went on
15: Two Minutewomen scored 15 points in the contest – McKayle, Palmieri
28: Total points scored in the paint for UMass
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)
