ALBANY, N.Y. – Leading up to Colorado’s Sweet 16 matchup against Iowa, much of the focus has been on the battles that will take place on the perimeter.
Iowa is loaded with sharp-shooting guards, including superstar Caitlin Clark. And, Colorado is loaded with talented guards, led by Jaylyn Sherrod.
A key battle on Saturday at MVP Arena, however, could be in the paint between CU’s Aaronette Vonleh and Iowa’s Hannah Stuelke.
“I think all the matchups on the floor are gonna be key, but I think that one’s just going to be about physicality, athleticism, rebounding – just really the little things,” Vonleh said. “I think it’ll be a good matchup. She’s a good player, but I think we’re prepared for all of them.”
Stuelke, a 6-foot-2 sophomore, averages 14.1 points and 6.7 rebounds in her first season as a starter. Vonleh, a 6-3 junior, comes in leading the team in scoring (14.0) and she’s second in rebounds (5.2).
Key for CU is that Vonleh comes in on a hot streak, having gone toe-to-toe with some of the best post players in the country recently.
“Sometimes you get to a place where you just kind of are who you are at this point in the season,” CU head coach JR Payne sad. “I (told Vonleh), it’s an incredible thing to see for as much success as you’ve had this year that you’re continuing to get better.”
Vonleh began her season scoring 24 points and grabbing six rebounds against LSU’s Angel Reese – a second-team All-American. She’s had several big games, but has also been up and down at times (like many players).
In her last three games, however, Vonleh’s been on a tear. On March 7 against Oregon State’s Raegan Beers – a third-team All-American – she had 20 points and four rebounds.
Colorado center Aaronette Vonleh (21) shoots under pressure from Kansas State center Ayoka Lee during the second half of a second-round college basketball game in the women’s NCAA Tournament in Manhattan, Kan., Sunday, March 24, 2024, in Manhattan, Kan. Colorado won 63-50. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Last weekend, in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, she had 18 points and 10 rebounds and dominated Drake’s Anna Miller, the Missouri Valley Conference defensive player of the year. On Sunday, she had nine points, eight rebounds and a career-high seven steals against Kansas State’s Ayoka Lee. She held Lee, an All-American honorable mention, to 10 points – about half of her average of 19.7.
Vonleh said she went into last weekend knowing it was win-or-go-home and she was determined to do her part for the team.
“I go into games expecting to just do what I’m capable of at a high level,” she said. “So I wasn’t really surprised but definitely proud of just being able to do it back to back.”
Last weekend in Manhattan, Kan., was arguably Vonleh’s best two-game stretch of the season, and it put her ability on full display.
“We’ve been telling her for the last two years that nobody in America can stop her,” CU’s Kindyll Wetta said. “I think it’s really just up to her when she wants to drop as many points as she does and just come out and be that post player, but I think she really stepped up the past weekend.
“To see her go out there and find that confidence in herself and kinda start realizing like, ‘OK, nobody can stop me,’ is really cool and we need that.”
Typically a good weapon on offense, Vonleh’s rebounding last weekend was particularly encouraging. It was just the second time in her career – and first time this year – she had at least eight in back-to-back games.
“I think the rebounding has been huge for Aaronette,” Payne said. “I think her approach to both of those games, knowing that they were key matchups for us, her focus was great, her intentionality about being really aggressive on the glass, knowing that we needed those, I thought they were game changers for us last weekend.”