University of Massachusets Athletics
Tuesday, February 10
DeKalb, Ill.
6:00 p.m.
University of Massachusetts
at
Northern Illinois
Women's Basketball Returns To Conference Play Against Northern Illinois
February 09, 2026 | Women's Basketball
| University of Massachusetts Women's Basketball Notes & Information | |
| Matchup | Massachusetts (16-5, 8-2 MAC) vs Northern Illinois (5-18, 2-9 MAC) |
| Date | Time | Feb. 14, 2026 | 6:00 p.m. |
| Location | DeKalb, Ill. | Convocation Center |
| Game Notes | Massachusetts | NIU |
| Watch | ESPN+ |
| Live Stats | SideArm Stats |
| @UMassWBB | |
| @umasswbb | |
| UMass Women's Basketball | |
AMHERST, Mass. – University of Massachusetts women's basketball (16-5) returns to the road to face conference foe Northern Illinois (5-18) at 6:00 p.m. on ESPN+ in DeKalb, Ill. at the Convocation Center. Links and live updates available at umassathletics.com or @UMassWBB on X (Twitter).
THE MATCHUP
- Massachusetts and Northern Illinois will meet for the first time in program history.
- When facing an opponent for the first time, UMass has an 86-100 record. Massachusetts last defeated a first-time opponent on January 14, 2026, crusing past Akron 82-68. This marked the second victory over a first time opponent, with the first comingvon December 19, 2025, as UMass defeated Florida Atlantic, 66-50, in the first round of the FIU Holiday Classic.
- The last time UMass defeated multiple inagural opponents was during the 2022-23 season, when the Minutewomen bested Arizona State (88-64), Drake (100-83), Loyola Chicago (76-59) and UAlbany (73-48).
LAST TIME OUT
- 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.
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)
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