HADLEY, Mass. (Interstat) — The Massachusetts Minutewomen delivered a dominant performance from the opening tip, overwhelming the visiting Massachusetts-Lowell River Hawks 85-45 in a non-conference women’s basketball game Tuesday night at the Mullins Center.

The Minutewomen improved to 4-0 on the young season, while the River Hawks evened their record at 2-2.

The outcome was never in doubt as Massachusetts erupted for 34 points in the first quarter, establishing a 19-point lead that would only grow. The River Hawks managed just 15 points in the opening period and were held to a mere eight in the second, entering halftime with a daunting 57-23 deficit. The Minutewomen’s offense cooled slightly after the break, but their defensive intensity never wavered, holding Massachusetts-Lowell to 12 points in the third and 10 in the fourth to secure the 40-point victory.

Ayanna Franks led all scorers, powering the Massachusetts offense with 20 points. The Windsor, Connecticut, native added two blocks and two steals in 29 minutes of action. She was instrumental in the first-quarter blitz that set the tone for the evening.

Yahmani McKayle, a guard from Queens, New York, orchestrated the Minutewomen’s attack, finishing with 15 points and a game-high six assists. Megan Olbrys of Norwood, Massachusetts, provided a strong interior presence, contributing 10 points and three assists in just 12 minutes before fouling out.

The Minutewomen’s defense was suffocating, forcing 18 River Hawks turnovers and converting them into numerous transition opportunities. Massachusetts also controlled the glass, out-rebounding Massachusetts-Lowell and tallying 10 steals and four blocks as a team. Allie Palmieri of Trumbull, Connecticut, stuffed the stat sheet with nine points, five assists, a block, and two steals.

For the River Hawks, the offensive struggles were pervasive. The team shot just 30.6 percent from the field and a frigid 22.7 percent from beyond the arc. They also converted only 10 of their 18 attempts from the free-throw line.

Jaini Edmonds of Worcester, Massachusetts, was the lone River Hawk to reach double figures, scoring 11 points. Tyanna Medina from Lawrence, Massachusetts, added five points and two assists, while Maddie Rice of Charlottesville, Virginia, and Sabrina Larsson of Uppsala, Sweden, each chipped in five and six points, respectively.

The game’s efficiency metrics underscored the one-sided nature of the contest. Massachusetts scored 85 points on 72 possessions, an offensive rating of 118.0, a mark of elite offensive execution. Conversely, Massachusetts-Lowell managed only 45 points on 70 possessions, an offensive rating of just 64.7.

The Minutewomen will look to continue their perfect start when they host Boston College on Saturday. The River Hawks aim to rebound on the road against Boston University, also on Saturday.

The game was played before an announced crowd of 885 at the Mullins Center.