Colorado Looks to Keep Streak Alive on Friday

BOULDER – Colorado welcomes in No. 14/10 Arizona for the final game of the now two-game homestand on Friday (7 p.m.). CU has won its last five games and has won 10 straight at the CU Events Center.

The Buffaloes (13-3, 4-1 Pac-12) were amid a three-game homestand, the longest of the season until news came down on Wednesday that Arizona State would be forced to forfeit Sunday's matchup.

"Every game is important and you feel like you just have to win every game at this point of the season," head coach JR Payne explained. "I'm glad we didn't spend all week preparing for Arizona State and then find out the game was canceled. We've been preparing for Arizona, knowing that we play them Friday night. We're glad that's not the game that is being canceled. We feel like our scout and team are locked in and we're excited for the game."

The Buffs are coming off their best win of the season, upsetting No. 8 Utah last Friday. The win was CU's first against a top-10 opponent since beating No. 1 Stanford on Jan. 17, 2021. CU's win over Utah was also the team's first ranked win since topping the No. 14/13 Wildcats in the second round of last season's Pac-12 Tournament.

Both teams have had additions and subtractions to the roster since the early March meeting last season. One of the most impactful additions for Colorado has been Arizona transfer Aaronette Vonleh. The sophomore has scored 10 or more points in 11 consecutive games and is third on the team with 11.5 points per game this season.

"It'll be a little weird because I was just there last season," Vonleh said of playing her former team. "I'm excited to just see them again and hopefully beat them."

Vonleh only averaged 4.1 points in 6.9 minutes for Arizona last season, but Coach Payne and the Buffs have been able to maximize Vonleh's short time as a Buff.

"I think she's exactly where we were hoping she would be," Payne commented. "She's a huge contributing factor for us offensively. Defensively, she's growing before our eyes. I keep saying she's finally starting to see herself the way we see her, which is someone that can have a huge impact on every game."

Colorado owns the 18-9 series advantage against Arizona, but the Wildcats have gotten the upper hand of late. UofA has won five of the last seven meetings dating back to the 2017-18 season. The Buffs have held Arizona to under 45 points in each of its last two wins. CU picked up a 50-38 win in February of 2020 and last season's 45-43 win in Las Vegas.

"I think we are two similar teams," Payne added. "We're similar in whom we want to be and what we are about. We both have lost and added significant pieces as far as who is contributing and who is impacting outcomes. They're [Arizona] great defensively. They rebound tenaciously. They really make you work for your points. I think it will be a defensive battle."

A win on Friday would be the first time Colorado would have back-to-back wins against ranked opponents since beating No. 21 Wyoming and No. 20 Vanderbilt in the 2007-08 season.

Friday's game will be televised on the Pac-12 Networks. Jenny Cavnar and former Buffs Kami Carmann Snyder will have the call. The game can also be heard on the Colorado Radio Network, the Varsity App and CUBUffs.com/Listen. The pregame will start at 6:30.

Mikayla Johnson Joins Buffs
Incoming freshman Mikayla Johnson joined the Buffs as an early enrollee on Thursday. The 6-1 guard, from Anchorage, Alaska, will redshirt the rest of the season. She will be able to practice with the team.

"We feel like we've been waiting forever, even though it's an early enrollment," Payne said of Johnson. "We've known she was going to come early since she committed. We've been anxiously waiting for this day to come and we're really excited that she's here."

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Players Mentioned

Aaronette Vonleh