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University of Massachusets Athletics
Wednesday, March 4
Akron, Ohio
6:00 p.m.
University of Massachusetts
at
Akron
Minutewomen Continue Roadtrip To Face Akron
March 02, 2026 | Women's Basketball
| University of Massachusetts Women's Basketball Notes & Information | |
| Matchup | Massachusetts (21-6, 13-3 MAC) vs Akron (7-22, 4-12 MAC) |
| Date | Time | March 4, 2026 | 6:00 p.m. |
| Location | Akron, Ohio | James A. Rhodes Arena |
| Game Notes | Massachusetts | Akron |
| Watch | ESPN+ |
| Live Stats | SideArm Stats |
| @UMassWBB | |
| @umasswbb | |
| UMass Women's Basketball | |
AMHERST, Mass. – University of Massachusetts women's basketball (21-6) continues road stint to face the Akron Zips (7-22) at 6:00 p.m. on ESPN+ in Akron, Ohio at James A. Rhodes Arena. Links and live updates available at umassathletics.com or @UMassWBB on X (Twitter).
THE MATCHUP
- Massachusetts and Akron will meet for the second time in program history, with the Minutewomen holding the lead
- The two teams last met this season on Jan. 14, 2026, where the Minutewomen took a 82-68 win on the day.
- The Minutewomen used a 28-point first quarter and three career-high performances to cruise past the Zips. In the absence of Chinenye Odenigbo, Jess Ross and Lilly Ferguson stepped up for UMass, each pouring in career high 13 points. Yahmani McKayle dished out a career-high 11 assists.
- As a unit, UMass dished out 25 assists, nabbed 36 rebounds and buried eight triples in the contest, shooting an efficient 35-of-71 (.493) from the field and 8-of-24 from behind the arc (.333).
LAST TIME OUT
- Massachusetts defeated Kent State, 64-48, on a Saturday afternoon tilt in Kalamazoo, using a 21-7 advantage in the second quarter to run past the Broncos.
- Graduate Allie Palmieri led the Minutewomen in the contest with 14 points, four rebounds and two assists on an efficient 6-12 from the field.
- Sophomore Yahmani McKayle added 11 points and five assists and Olbrys tacked on 12 points and six rebounds. Aiyanna Perkins tied her career-high of 10 points in the contest, and is the second time in three games she has reached 10 points.
- After falling into an early 12-2 hole just under three minutes into action, the Minutewomen went on a 30-11 run until the half. UMass shot 52 percent (26-of-52) in the contest, marking the second highest field goal percentage of the season and the fifth time Massachusetts has surpassed the .500 mark this season.
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 16.4 assists per game, good for second in the MAC and 39th in the country.
- The team ranks best in the MAC in turnovers per game (15.2). The Minutewomen also rank second in assists/turnover ratio (1.09), scoring defense (60.2), fourth in blocks per game (3.48) and fourth in steals per game (9.78).
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 return home to honor seniors in last regular season matchup against Buffalo, March 7.
- 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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