The UMass women’s and men’s basketball teams each tipped off their respective 2023-24 seasons with strong victories in the Mullins Center this week, wrapping up a phenomenal week of home wins for UMass athletics programs.

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The Minutewomen took to the court for the first time under new head coach Jason Leflar on Monday, Nov. 6, and topped Saint Peter’s, 56-44, led by the tag team of junior guards Kristin Williams (19 points) and Stefanie Kulesza (15 points, 14 rebounds).

The Minutemen followed suit the next night, downing UAlbany, 92-71, in their season-opener. Four of second-year head coach Frank Martin’s players tallied double-digit points, led by senior forward Josh Cohen (22 points, 8 rebounds). Junior guard Rahsool Diggins and sophomore forward Daniel Hankins-Sanford each added 14 points and sophomore guard Keon Thompson contributed another 13.

The teams’ wins on Jack Leaman Court capped a stretch that also saw Homecoming Weekend victories by UMass hockey – 2-1 against Northeastern at the Mullins Center, on Friday, Nov. 3 – and the Minutemen football team – 31-21 against Merrimack on Saturday at McGuirk Alumni Stadium.

The UMass women’s basketball season features home matchups against Harvard (Nov. 16), UMass Lowell (Dec. 10) and UAlbany (Dec. 20) before diving into their home Atlantic 10 schedule against Dayton on Jan. 2. The men’s squad will face six non-conference opponents at the Mullins Center – and a game against West Virginia at Springfield’s MassMutual Center in the Hall of Fame Classic on Dec. 16 – this fall before the start of their A-10 campaign Jan. 3 against Duquesne.

Complete schedules for both programs, as well as player bios, game recaps, stats and highlights, can be found at UMassAthletics.com. Tickets for all UMass basketball games at the Mullins Center, as well as home hockey and the final home football game of the season – Nov. 25 versus UConn – can be purchased at https://umasstix.evenue.net.