Lisa Bluder selects Hannah Stuelke to lead postseason celebration after big day vs. Colorado
After Iowa’s big win over Colorado in the Sweet 16, Hawkeye head women’s basketball coach Lisa Bluder made a point to celebrate sophomore forward Hannah Stuelke.
In the win over the Buffs, Stuelke recorded her third double-double of the season and the fourth of her career. The 6-foot-2 forward from Cedar Rapids scored 11 points and 10 rebounds.
As the Hawkeyes readied to toss the “Iowa” placard onto the big tournament bracket cutout in its locker room, Bluder singled out Stuelke’s day.
“This is so hard, because, I mean, you guys, honestly, anybody, I could pick anybody to do this, but I’m going to pick Hannah and I’m going to tell you why. She had a double-double tonight and she held 21 to zero rebounds,” Bluder said as Stuelke’s teammates erupted.
Moving On 😎@StuelkeHannah x #Hawkeyes pic.twitter.com/Su0J3QDQ50
— Iowa Women's Basketball (@IowaWBB) March 31, 2024
Of course, No. 21 for Colorado is talented junior center Aaronette Vonleh. The 6-foot-3 center for CU finished with 13 points and five rebounds, but she had zero offensive rebounds. Vonleh came in averaging 1.8 offensive rebounds per game.
Stuelke’s work on the defensive glass was certainly exceptional. It helped Iowa get out and run as the Hawkeyes were able to set the tempo of the game and keep the Buffs from a plethora of second-chance opportunities.
Iowa (32-4, 15-3 Big Ten) is moving on to the Elite Eight where it will battle defending national champion LSU (31-5, 13-3 SEC) for a return trip to the Final Four.
The contest will tip off on ESPN at 6:15 p.m. CT on Monday night from MVP Arena in Albany, N.Y.
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