Women's Basketball

Minutewomen Clinch 84-73 Win In Home Opener

Story Courtesy of UMass Athletic Communications

AMHERST, Mass. -- University of Massachusetts women's basketball (2-0, 0-0 MAC) earned an 84-73 win over Siena University (0-2, 0-0 MAAC), Saturday afternoon in their home opener at the Mullins Center (970).

The Minutewomen commanded the floor from the jump, gaining an early lead and maintaining a substantial lead throughout the contest.

Graduate guard Allie Palmieri led the Minutewomen with 20 points.

Megan Olbrys and Yahmani McKayle also proved to be significant contributors during the game, with Olbrys adding 16 points and five rebounds and McKayle had 19 points and eight assists.

Breaking Down The Action
  • Allie Palmieri got the Minutewomen on the board first with a shot from behind the arc less than 30 seconds into the first quarter.
  • Back-to-back baskets by Genevive Wedemeyer gave Siena an early 5-3 lead.
  • Megan Olbrys' fast break layup engineered a 12-0 run with 5:06 left in the first quarter.
  • Caydence Hadley's layup snapped a three minute scoring drought for the Saints.
  • Right before the shot clock buzzer, Aiyanna Perkins drilled a three to extend the Minutewomen lead.
  • A pair of free throws by the Saints cut the Siena deficit to 19-9 with 1:26 in the first quarter.
  • Both teams traded baskets for the last minute with Massachusetts taking a 23-11 advantage into the second quarter.
  • Chieneye Odenigbo opened an early 6-0 run to open the second quarter.
  • With a left wing three by Turner, Siena got their first points of the quarter with eight minutes on the clock.
  • After exchanging baskets, a feed by Palmieri found Olbrys under the basket to put the Minutewomen ahead, 40-22 with 5:28 to play in the half.
  • Siena garnered their first run of the game with a 9-0 run over nearly three minutes to bring the Saints within nine.
  • Yahmani Mckalye's midrange jumpshot extended the Massachusetts lead with 1:49 on the clock.
  • A fastbreak layup by Mckayle closed the first half scoring to give the Minutewomen a 44-31 advantage into halftime.
  • A pair of jumpers in the paint by McKayle and Palmieri brought the lead back to fifteen.
  • Siena answered with baskets of their own by Schiro and Nicole Melious to force a Massachusetts time out.
  • Olbrys added some insurance with a three point play to extend the Minutewomen lead, 51-37 with 5:53 left to play in the third.
  • At the top of the three point line, Olbrys swooshed in a trey for a 63-42 lead with 2:09 in the third.
  • Melious' free throws ended the third quarter scoring with Massachusetts holding a 64-47 lead.
  • For the opening minutes of the fourth, the teams matched baskets with a trey by Palmieri giving the Minutewomen a 72-56 advantage.
  • Off a jumpshot, Palmieri extended the Massachusetts lead but was answered by a three from Schiro with 3:43 left on the clock.
  • In an attempt to close the deficit Melious capped a 10-2 run over the remaining minutes of the period with the Minutewomen earning a 84-73 win.
By The Numbers
4: Four Minutewomen recorded double digits in the afternoon: Palmieri (20), McKayle (19), Olbrys (16), Franks (10).
8: Yahmani McKayle recorded eight assists on the day.
20: Allie Palmieri led the Minutewomen with 20 points in the fixture.
22: The Minutewomen's largest lead of the game recorded 1:26 in the third quarter.
34: McKayle recorded the greatest number of minutes on the floor in the matchup.
Up Next