Women's Basketball

Minutewomen Move to 6-0 Following Win Versus Holy Cross

Tuesday’s Women’s Basketball Results
UMass 63, Holy Cross 40
Toledo 69, Youngstown State 65
Roosevelt 82, Western Michigan 70 (OT)
Stories Courtesy of MAC Athletic Communications Departments

UMass 63, Holy Cross 40
Box Score
WORCESTER, Mass.- University of Massachusetts women's basketball shot 46.9% in the second half, while limiting Holy Cross to just four field goals following the break en route to a 63-40 win over the Crusaders at the Hart Center on Tuesday. With the victory, the Minutewomen improve to 6-0 on the season, while Holy Cross drops to 2-4.

Three individuals finished in double figure scoring for UMass, led by Yahmani McKayle's 17 points. Megan Olbrys registered 16 points to go along with 10 boards for a double-double and Allie Palmieri contributed 12 points. Ayanna Franks keyed the Minutewomen defense with nine steals, one shy of the program's single-game record.

The Minutewomen recorded 18 steals on the night, marking their first 15+ steal game since Nov. 10, 2024 when they had 16 against Fordham.

Breaking Down The Action
  • McKayle started the momentum by floating in a jumper at 6:43, starting aa 13-0 run, with Franks, Palmieri, Ferguson, Olbrys and McKayle all scoring
  • McKayle put in a jumper putting UMass back in the lead, 16-15
  • Ayanna Franks nabbed a steal and finished with a layup with 4:45 remaining in the half
  • Olbrys tallied two free throws and then a jumper 31 seconds later for a 22-19 lead
  • Olbrys brought more heat offensively, adding another three free throws in the last minute of the half, with UMass leading 25-22 at the break
  • The Minutewomen then went on a 15-0 run against the Crusaders in the third quarter
  • McKayle fed a pass to Olbrys, who grabbed a three pointer 45 seconds into the third quarter
  • Odenigbo grabbed her first points of the night, with a layup at 7:25
  • Ferguson tossed a pass to McKayle who nailed the points from beyond the arch
  • Odenigbo's defensive rebound put UMass on a chase to the offensive zone, where McKayle fed Palmieri to a layup
  • McKayle converted on the And One with a jumper and a free throw, putting Massachusetts total to 40--24 at 3:46 of the third
  • Ferguson converted on two different free throw chances, adding four more points in the contest
  • McKayle ended the third quarter with a jumpshot and a layup 58 seconds later
  • Olbrys put her total points to 14 in the beginning of the fourth for a 50-35 lead
  • Odenigbo grabbed the defensive rebound, sending it to McKayle for an assist on Palmieri's layup with 8:25 left in the final quarter
  • Odenigbo added another two points with a layup with an assist from Olbrys with 4:49 left on the clock
  • McKayle ended the scoring for UMass with a three pointer, assisted by Jess Ross, and the game ended 63-40

Toledo 69, Youngstown State 65
Box Score
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – The Toledo women's basketball team earned its first road win of the season, using a 25-point fourth quarter to rally past Youngstown State 69-65 at the Beeghly Center on Tuesday.

The Rockets (2-3) built up a 34-28 lead by halftime and weathered a third-quarter run by the Penguins (4-2) to earn the victory. Toledo, which trailed by two points entering the fourth quarter, out-scored Youngstown State 33-23 over the final 13:27 of the game and led the for the final 7:27.

The Rockets knocked down seven three-pointers, one away from its season high, for a 7-4 advantage from deep. Toledo won the rebounding battle, 38-28 and the turnover battle, 12-11.