UMass women’s basketball team gives up lead and falls to Buffalo in WNIT second round

UMass guard Yahmani McKayle (10) dribbles around La Salle guard Joan Quinn (13) at the Mullins Center on Jan. 15 in Amherst. STAFF FILE PHOTO / DANIEL JACOBI II

Staff Reports

Published: 03-23-2025 9:27 PM

The UMass women’s basketball team was in the driver’s seat entering the fourth quarter of its WNIT second round game with Buffalo on Sunday afternoon. Playing its future MAC foe, the Minutewomen led by 16 (61-45) entering the fourth quarter and looked as if they had another postseason win in the bag.

But the Bulls raced back, outscoring UMass 29-13 over the final 10 minutes to tie the game at 74 and send it to overtime. Buffalo used an Ariana Seawell layup at the 1:50 mark of the extra session to go ahead 84-82, and UMass freshman Yahmani McKayle turned the ball over on the Minutewomen’s final possession to seal the two-point defeat on the road.

UMass defeated Stonehill at Mullins Center on Thursday night in round one, setting it up with Buffalo on Sunday.

The Minutewomen officially end their season with a 17-15 record, a dozen more wins than they had a year ago as head coach Mike Leflar completed a full roster rebuild in just one offseason in Amherst.

McKayle scored a team-high 19 points for UMass, Stefanie Kulesza scored 18 points on an efficient 7-for-11 shooting in her final game with the Minutewomen, Megan Olbrys was terrific all around with 11 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists before she fouled out and Allie Palmieri tossed in 12 points.

UMass led 19-16 after one and 33-31 at halftime before using a dominant 28-14 third quarter to jump ahead by 16 entering the fourth. Buffalo went on a 14-2 spurt to get back in the game. Palmieri scored eight clutch points (two 3s and a mid-range jumper) late in the final quarter to help tie the game and give UMass a chance in overtime.

McKayle and Lilly Ferguson each made a pair of free throws to jump the Minutewomen in front 82-81 with three minutes remaining in the extra session. That would be the last time UMass led as Seawell converted inside following a Sitota Gines free throw, and the Bulls defended their home floor with a two-point, come-from-behind win.

Buffalo (26-7) advances to play in the Super 16, where it awaits the winner of Southern Indiana and Campbell.

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