MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. (Interstat) — The Massachusetts women’s basketball team built a massive first-half lead and cruised to a 69-50 victory over Central Michigan on Saturday at McGuirk Arena. The Minutemen (19-6) dominated the opening quarters, leading 18-8 after one and 42-23 at halftime. The Chippewas (16-10) never recovered. Megan Olbrys led Massachusetts with 10 points and 12 rebounds. Allie Palmieri scored a game-high 19 points. Madi Morson paced Central Michigan with 16 points. Massachusetts forced 23 points off turnovers while allowing only seven. Attendance was 1,802. The Minutemen swept the regular-season series, having also won 74-72 on Jan. 10.

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. (Interstat) — The Massachusetts women’s basketball team used a dominant first half to build an insurmountable lead and cruised to a 69-50 victory over Central Michigan in a Mid-American Conference game at McGuirk Arena on Saturday. The Minutemen, who improved to 19-6 overall, opened the game with stifling defense and efficient three-point shooting, racing out to a 42-23 halftime advantage. Massachusetts held Central Michigan to just eight points in the first quarter and forced 10 turnovers in the opening half, converting those miscues into easy scoring opportunities. The most important part of the game was the opening quarter, where Massachusetts established complete control. The Minutemen began the game on a 13-0 run, fueled by a pair of three-pointers from guard Yahmani McKayle and tenacious defense that forced four Central Michigan turnovers in the first four minutes. The Chippewas did not score their first field goal until a Madi Morson layup with 4:19 remaining in the period, by which time Massachusetts led 15-2. The Minutemen ended the quarter leading 18-8, having set a physical and disruptive tone that lasted the entire game. Massachusetts extended its lead in the second quarter, shooting 6 of 10 from three-point range in the first half. Allie Palmieri scored 12 of her team-high 19 points before halftime, including three shots from beyond the arc. The Minutemen’s offensive rating of 101.1, compared to Central Michigan’s 71.3, underscored their superior execution. Central Michigan, which fell to 16-10, never threatened in the second half. The Chippewas cut the deficit to 16 points late in the third quarter but could not sustain any momentum, committing 18 turnovers in the game. Massachusetts scored 23 points off those turnovers, while Central Michigan managed only seven. Megan Olbrys was the top star for Massachusetts, filling the stat sheet with 10 points, 12 rebounds, three assists, two blocks and two steals in 34 minutes. Her defensive presence in the paint was pivotal, contributing to Central Michigan’s 19-for-50 shooting performance. Palmieri, a guard from Trumbull, Connecticut, added six rebounds and two assists to her 19 points. McKayle orchestrated the offense with 16 points and nine assists. For Central Michigan, Madi Morson led all scorers with 16 points. Taylor Anderson grabbed a game-high 14 rebounds but was hampered by seven turnovers. Ayanna-Sarai Darrington added eight points and four rebounds off the bench. The game was a reversal of the teams’ first meeting on Jan. 10, a 74-72 Massachusetts victory at home. This time, the Minutemen left no doubt, leading for over 39 minutes and by as many as 23 points. Massachusetts finished the game shooting 11 for 20 from three-point range, a 55% clip, while Central Michigan was just 3 for 10. The Minutemen also won the battle on the glass, outrebounding the Chippewas 45-34 and securing 10 offensive rebounds. A crowd of 1,802 watched as Massachusetts snapped a brief two-game home losing streak and continued its strong conference campaign. The Minutemen will host Kent State on Wednesday. Central Michigan, which has lost two of its last three, travels to face Toledo on Wednesday. National Statistical’s ELO system had given Massachusetts a narrow 50.30 percent probability to win, a projection the Minutemen exceeded with a comprehensive road performance defined by their explosive start and sustained defensive pressure.

Preview: Massachusetts Minutewomen at Central Michigan Chippewas MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. (Interstat) — A pivotal Mid-American Conference women’s basketball matchup features the Massachusetts Minutewomen visiting the Central Michigan Chippewas on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, at McGuirk Arena. Massachusetts (18-6 overall) enters looking to rebound from a midweek home loss to Toledo, 60-52, which snapped a stretch of solid conference play. The Minutewomen are led by standout guard Megan Olbrys, who scored 20 points in that defeat. Olbrys has been a consistent force, averaging 15.3 points over her last seven games, including a 24-point performance in a win at Ohio on Jan. 28. Central Michigan (16-9) also seeks to bounce back from a road loss, falling 65-53 at Miami (Ohio) on Wednesday. The Chippewas have shown resilience at home, winning three of their last four in Mount Pleasant. Forward Demetria Prewitt provides a defensive anchor, averaging 2.0 blocks over her last five contests while contributing on the boards. This game is a quick rematch of a Jan. 10 thriller in Amherst, where Massachusetts edged Central Michigan 74-72. That result will likely fuel the Chippewas, who have gone 6-3 since that narrow defeat. The matchup hinges on tempo and defense. Massachusetts will rely on Olbrys’s scoring versatility and the backcourt support of Allie Palmieri, who had 12 points and four assists against Toledo. Central Michigan will counter with its interior presence, led by Prewitt and leading scorer Madi Morson, who posted 17 points in the last outing. With both teams jockeying for postseason positioning in the MAC, Saturday’s contest carries significant weight. Massachusetts holds a slight edge in the standings, but Central Michigan’s home-court advantage sets the stage for a tightly contested battle. Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. EST. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+.