AMHERST — The UMass women’s basketball team sent off its seniors with a 73-55 win over Buffalo on senior day to close out the regular season on Saturday afternoon.
Despite the 18-point win, the Minutewomen didn’t have an easy start to their final home game of the season. Both teams went on runs throughout the first quarter, capped off by an 8-0 stretch for the Bulls to take an 18-17 lead to close the frame.
UMass bounced back well, especially on the defensive end. The Minutewomen’s trapping zone and aggressive man-to-man made things hard on Buffalo’s ball handlers, helping to generate turnovers and limit them to just eight points through the second quarter.
“I thought [Saturday], our defense did a great job,” UMass head coach Mike Leflar said. “… Once we started switching back to all man, and obviously getting some turnovers in the press, I thought we did a really great job defending their actions… Really great team defensive effort, top to bottom.”
Buffalo came into Saturday’s contest down players, with four scratches giving the team just eight players who dressed against UMass. Diann Jackson started the game for the Bulls, playing just nine minutes before suffering a brutal knee injury and shortening the bench to just seven.
At halftime, the Minutewomen held a 39-26 lead, hoping to not be plagued by third-quarter struggles that have been evident throughout the season to this point. Leflar put his group in a full-court press, even more aggressively attacking the ball to begin the third quarter.
The press helped UMass tally 17 steals in the victory, its second-highest total in a game this season. Yahmani McKayle led the way defensively with a career-high seven steals, along with Megan Olbrys tying her career high with five of her own.
“We were fortunate to get to the free throw line, and then we typically press after free throws,” Leflar said. “If we do turn someone over and we score it, or they get it right back, we just stay in the press. [Buffalo was] down to seven players at that point. We were continuing to tell our team to run, and we were just able to wear them down, physically, probably mentally and emotionally as well.”
On the offensive end, the Minutewomen caught fire in the middle two quarters, scoring 44 of their 73 points across the second and third frames. Allie Palmieri led the team with a 19-point effort, shooting 4-of-8 from the 3-point line in the process.
Palmieri has been a consistent bucket-getter down the stretch this season, with Saturday’s performance putting her in double figures in 18 of her last 20 games. The graduate added on five rebounds and two assists, continuing her impactful season through the final buzzer.
“It’s a testament to my teammates,” Palmieri said. “… Having that belief in me, [Leflar] runs certain plays so I could get shots, so it’s showing that they believe that I can make the shot. So then that pours into my confidence, knowing I can just keep shooting, make or miss.”
Olbrys was close behind her teammate with 17 points in the win, shooting an efficient 8-of-13 from the floor (61.5 %). The senior was dominant in the paint all game long, tallying three offensive and defensive rebounds as well, adding on a block for good measure.
UMass made it a point to get the ball inside on the offensive end consistently against the Bulls, converting the high percentage looks at an impressive rate. Of the team’s 73 total points, 50 came from inside the painted area, nearly outscoring Buffalo’s total (55).
Palmieri and Olbrys were joined by Lilly Ferguson as the three seniors celebrated during Saturday’s senior day festivities. Each player was recognized before tipoff, with each one also earning a standing ovation when they checked out of the game at the end of the fourth quarter.
“I’m super proud of being able to be a part of this program for the last four years,” Ferguson said. “It means a lot to me just to be around such a great team and such a great coaching staff, and I really appreciate all the support UMass has brought for me over the last couple of years. It’s definitely a surreal feeling with this being my last game, I but couldn’t be more proud to just be here.”
With the win, the Minutewomen finished the regular season with a 23-6 overall record, including a 15-3 record in the Mid-American Conference.
The quarterfinal round matchups are currently unknown, but UMass will be traveling to Cleveland, Ohio, for the MAC Tournament next week. Regardless of how the seeding ends up, the Minutewomen’s first game will be on Wednesday, March 11, at Rocket Arena.
“It’s been a really big dream of mine to win a conference championship, and this year, we have more of a chance than ever, and I’m so excited,” Ferguson said. “I’ve been excited to go to Cleveland for so long, because I know we have so much potential to come back with a championship, and I know that our team is going to do whatever it takes.”