Story Courtesy of UMass Athletic Communications
AMHERST, Mass. -- University of Massachusetts women's basketball (4-0, 0-0 MAC) used a hot start to cruise to an 85-45 win against UMass Lowell (2-2, 0-0 MAAC) on Tuesday at the Mullins Center. The Minutewomen opened the contest with a 34-point first quarter, which included a 21-0 run.
Sophomore guard Ayanna Franks poured in a new career-high with 20 points on 7-for-12 shooting to go along with seven rebounds,
Olbrys and McKayle also had notable offensive efforts with McKayle putting up 15 points and Olbrys adding 10.
Breaking Down The Action
- Mckayle started the action off the tipoff with a layup four seconds in
- Franks added her first points of the game with a jumper 24 seconds later
- The Minutewomen went up 23-2 with 5:37 to play in the first, capping the 21-0 run
- A layup from Jaini Edmonds from UMass Lowell ended the scoring draught for the River Hawks at the 5:25 mark
- UMass responded with buckets from Franks and Olbrys for the next five points, adding to the lead
- A made jumper by Edmonds added to the River Hawks total as the first quarter came to a close with the Minutewomen up 34-15
- Jess Ross started the scoring for the Minutewomen in the second quarter with a jumper in the paint, coming off UMass Lowell turnover
- McKayle brought her points total to six with a jumper with 8:13 on the clock
- Franks contributed a layup off Olbrys defensive rebound bringing the Massachusetts total to 40
- Allie Palmieri put down two free throws with five minutes left in the half, bringing the score to 42-20
- Mckayle extended the lead further by grabbing a defensive rebound, a jumper, and a three in under two minutes
- Odenigbo started an 11-2 run to finish the second quarter, en route to a 57-23 UMass lead at the break
- Mckayle began the third quarter scoring for Massachusetts with a jumper in the paint at 9:14
- A steal from Mckayle created more offense for the Minutewomen, leading to a Palmieri jumper at 8:29
- Olbrys converted a pair of free throws at 7:46 to make it a 63-28 margin
- Chinenye Odenigbo beat the shot clock with her second-chance buzzer beater at 3:54
- Lilly Ferguson put points on the board with a pair of free throws at 3:15
- Two free throws by Franks broke her career-high in points, bringing her to 15 points on the night
- Massachusetts went into the final quarter holding a 36-point advantage at 71-35
- Anya George started off the scoring in the final quarter with a jumper 52 seconds in, her first points of the season
- A shooting foul brought Aiyanna Perkins to the line, adding a free throw to the total
- Franks contributed another five in the quarter, increasing the Massachusetts lead to 44
- Brooke Pulpi added her first career points in the contest with a pair of free throws with 2:01 remaining
By The Numbers
3: Three Minutewomen reached double scoring on the night – Franks (20), McKayle (15), and Olbrys (10)
20: Franks totaled a career-high 20 points in the contest
21: Minutewomen's longest run of the evening going 21-0 in the first quarter
44: The Minutewomen scored 44 points in the paint
46: The Minutewomen's largest lead, recorded at 7:04 in the final quarter of play
