The Massachusetts women’s basketball team remained undefeated as it took down Boston College for the first time since 2007, 61-52. The Minutewomen (5-0) played their usual game, aggressively trapping and moving the ball, but the spirited play of senior Megan Olbrys was the spark that rallied UMass to victory.
The forward gave the Eagles (3-4) problems all over the court, scoring a career-high 24 points and grabbing 12 rebounds, just one shy of her career high on the boards.
Olbrys’ effort against Boston College resulted in her first 20-point performance and first double-double of the season.
“I credit everything to my teammates,” Olbrys said. “They found me, especially early on in the game.”
The Minutewomen lead the Mid-American Conference in assist-to-turnover ratio at 1.27 and average 20.3 assists per game, good for 15th in the NCAA. The unselfish offense provided Olbrys with plenty of chances to get open looks and get to the rim.
“We want to see each other win, point blank period,” Olbrys said. “…We all love playing with each other and we trust each other with the ball in any circumstance.”
Olbrys didn’t force her offense, shooting an efficient 8-for-15 from the field and knocking down a straight-on three in the first quarter. The Norwood Mass. native dominated the opening frame with 15 of UMass’ 21 points. The only other Minutewomen to score in the first quarter was Yahmani McKayle, who hit back-to-back threes.
Olbrys opened the scoring for UMass just eight seconds into the game with a cut to the baseline off an inbound pass from McKayle. Her early aggressive play put Boston College sophomore Lily Carmody in foul trouble with two fouls in the first three minutes. The Australian forward was limited to nine points and 17 minutes, hurting the Eagles’ offense.
The Minutewomen captain took control of the momentum, going 7-for-8 from the free throw line. The stripe has been a struggle for Olbrys this season, as she had made just six of 13 attempts entering Saturday’s game. Her improvement shows how dangerous she can be offensively.
Olbrys dominated inside the entire game. Her quick cuts to the rim and polished post moves kept her a step ahead of Boston College.
Two minutes into the game, she missed an open jumper from the top of the key, stayed with the play and chased down the rebound for an easy putback. Directly after, she stepped up to the free-throw line for the first time, going two-for-two.
The forward grabbed four offensive rebounds and eight defensive boards. Her presence inside helped UMass score 15 second-chance points and 13 fast-break points. Her work around the rim also contributed to the team’s 28 points in the paint.
Olbrys showed she could score from the midrange as well, knocking down a left-handed power dribble into a stepback jumper along the baseline in the third quarter.
At 6-foot-1, Olbrys also disrupted the Eagles’ offense, helping hold them to 18 points in the paint. Her commitment to the Minutewomen’s trapping defense continued to pay off, as she finished with a steal and a block while committing four fouls.
The senior sits at 71 points on the season, good for an average of 14.2. She also leads UMass in rebounds with 38, with 11 being offensive ones and 27 coming from the defensive side.
The Minutewomen will face Holy Cross on Nov. 25. Tipoff is for scheduled for 6:00 p.m. and can be streamed on ESPN+.
Jonathan Charlier can be reached at [email protected] and followed on X @JonathanDChar
