MIAMI (Interstat) — Megan Olbrys scored 18 points and grabbed eight rebounds to power Massachusetts to a 66-50 victory over Florida Atlantic in a women’s basketball game Friday at the FIU Christmas Classic. The Minutemen (8-1) built a commanding lead early, holding the Owls to just six first-quarter points and taking a 35-18 advantage into halftime. Massachusetts maintained a double-digit cushion throughout the second half, stifling any rally attempt. Florida Atlantic (5-6) was led by Destyne Jackson, who scored 13 points and collected eight rebounds. The Owls showed life with a 19-point fourth quarter but could not overcome their slow start. Yahmani McKayle added 11 points and four assists for Massachusetts, which dominated the rebounding battle.

MIAMI, Fla. (Interstat) — The Massachusetts women’s basketball team used a dominant defensive start to build an insurmountable lead and cruised to a 66-50 victory over Florida Atlantic on Friday in the FIU Christmas Classic. The Minutemen (8-1) held the Owls to just six points in the first quarter and 18 in the first half, establishing a 35-18 halftime advantage that Florida Atlantic (5-6) never seriously threatened. The game’s decisive stretch came early, as Massachusetts opened with a 10-0 run and limited Florida Atlantic to 2-of-16 shooting from the field in the opening period. Megan Olbrys led Massachusetts with 18 points and eight rebounds. The 6-foot-1 forward from Norwood, Massachusetts, was efficient from the floor, making six of her 12 field goal attempts, and added two assists, a steal and a block. Her performance anchored an offense that, while not shooting a high percentage overall, capitalized on second chances and free throws. The Minutemen’s interior presence was a major factor, outscoring Florida Atlantic 32-20 in the paint and outrebounding them 49-44. Massachusetts also converted 17 of 19 attempts from the free-throw line, a stark contrast to the Owls, who made just 7 of 16. Yahmani McKayle added 11 points and four assists for Massachusetts, while Chinenye Odenigbo contributed six points, five rebounds, four assists and two blocks in just 12 minutes of action. Florida Atlantic, which fell to 1-5 in its last six games, was paced by Destyne Jackson’s 13 points and eight rebounds. Haley Walker added six points and six rebounds, but the Owls struggled mightily with their shooting throughout. They finished the game at 29.7% from the field and were a frigid 5 of 27 from three-point range. The most important part of the game was the opening quarter, where Massachusetts set the tone with its defensive intensity. The sequence that encapsulated the period began with Odenigbo scoring the game’s first points on a tip-in after two offensive rebounds. On the ensuing possession, a steal by Olbrys led to a foul and two made free throws. Florida Atlantic turned the ball over on its next two possessions, and a layup by Odenigbo off a feed from Olbrys capped the 10-0 start before the Owls had even managed a field goal. Massachusetts forced seven Florida Atlantic turnovers in the quarter and held them without a point for the first five and a half minutes of play. While Florida Atlantic showed more life in the second half, outscoring Massachusetts 32-31 after the break, the early deficit was too large to overcome. The Owls never got closer than 13 points in the fourth quarter. The game was played before an announced crowd of 165 at FIU Arena. Massachusetts will continue play in the holiday tournament against Youngstown State on Saturday. Florida Atlantic will face host Florida International, also on Saturday. According to National Statistical’s ELO system, Massachusetts entered the game with an 87% probability to win. The victory extends the Minutemen’s strong start to the season, with their only loss coming by three points at Army on Dec. 6. Florida Atlantic sees its record dip below .500 as it heads into conference play later this month.