AMHERST, Mass. – University of Massachusetts women’s basketball (10-2) travels to Miami, Ohio, for a Wednesday matchup against Miami (OH) (5-9) at 7:00 on ESPN+. Links and live updates available at umassathletics.com or @UMassWBB on X (Twitter). 


THE MATCHUP 


Massachusetts and Miami will meet for the fourth time in program history, with the RedHawks holding a 2-1 lead in the all-time series history.  
The two teams first met on Dec. 21, 2010 as the Minutewomen erased a 17-point deficit for the second consecutive game to secure a 78-72 victory on the day. 
UMass and the RedHawks last met on Dec. 1, 2013 with Miami claiming a 50-40 victory. 

LAST TIME OUT 


Following an ice-cold first half in which the Minutewomen shot just 8-33 (.242) including 1-10 from behind the arc, UMass caught fire in the second half, shooting a blazing 17-29 (.586) from the field and 5-8 (.625) from three en route to a 15-point comeback.  
Yahmani McKayle was the biggest factor for the Minutewomen’s second-half surge, setting a career-high 28 points to go along with three assists and three steals. McKayle could not miss in the second half, scoring 26 points on 10-12 shooting and hitting four-consecutive threes.  
 Megan Olbrys chipped in 13 points and six rebounds with Allie Palmieri also adding 13 points along with four boards, three steals and two made threes. Chinenye Odenigbo also netted 10 points, scoring double-digits in the second straight game. 

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 


The team ranks best in the MAC for field goal percentage defense (.348) and scoring margin (14.1). The team also ranks second in the MAC in blocked shots per game (3.8), assist/turnover ratio (1.05), and steals per game (10.9) and third in assists per game (16.6). 


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 with a conference contest against Central Michigan on Wednesday, January 10, in Amherst, Mass. 
The game will be streamed on ESPN+ with links and live updates available at umassathletics.com or @UMassWBB on X (Twitter).