The UMass women’s basketball team refused to go away against Dayton on Wednesday. 

The Flyers got their offense going and went on a run to take a 59-51 lead with 5 minutes, 11 seconds to play. The Minutewomen proceeded to score on six straight possessions to cut the lead to just 62-61 with 2:28 to play. 

UMass failed to get a basket for over two minutes before an Allie Palmieri 3-pointer with 16 seconds to play cut the Dayton lead to 65-64. Forced to play the foul game, Flyer Rikki Harris went to the line with 12 seconds to go and made both. Ale Sorrentino put up the potential game-tying 3 for the Minutewomen with two seconds to go but the shot didn’t fall, with Dayton escaping for a 67-64 home victory. 

UMass (7-8, 2-2 Atlantic 10) opened up a 19-14 lead after 10 minutes and led for much of the second quarter before the Flyers (9-6, 3-1 A-10) closed the half on an 11-4 run to take a 37-35 lead into the intermission. 

Just eight totals baskets by both teams were scored in the third quarter, leading to a 47-47 tie going into the fourth. 

Yahmani McKayle finished with 18 points and five steals, Palmieri tossed in 15 points, Stefanie Kulesza scored nine points while Chinenye Odenigbo and Megan Olbrys each added eight points for the Minutewomen. 

Ivy Wolf led Dayton with 26 points while Arianna Smith added 17 points and 16 rebounds for the Flyers. 

Next up for UMass is a trip to New York to take on St. Bonaventure, with tip set for 1 p.m. Sunday.