WNBL Rd.5 Wrap: Suzy, on cue
TweetSUZY Batkovic, as everyone in Australian basketball knows, is a superstar.
(Well, all except one person knows it.)
This week she fashioned one of the shots of the year when she bobbled an inbounds catch as she twisted under the Townsville basket, lost her balance, tumbled to the floor but en route to kissing the pine, flicked the ball up with her left hand.
Yes, of course it went in, serenaded by the siren as the Fire forced overtime at home against Sydney Uni.
At 76-76, the game went on into the five-minute extension where the Flames pulled 81-76 clear before another great Fire comeback to pinch the win 85-83.
Former Fire guard Alex Wilson had a three to steal it for Sydney but it didn't fall, unlike Mia Murray. (Find the vision. It is worth it.)
BATARANG: Suzy Batkovic battling Sydney's Asia Taylor in this pic from Evan Morgan.
Sydney drew 22 points from its bench and forget its ladder standing - the Flames are in the mix.
Bendigo locked up its third win since its two losses with a solid performance against the University of Canberra Capitals, Nayo Raincock-Ekunwe with 22 points and eight rebounds to add her name to MVP conversations.
Aussie Griffin had a 14 points, 12 rebounds. four assists and two blocks in a standard high-quality game for her, while Marianna Tolo again led the Caps, this time with 19 points on 7-of-11 shooting, seven rebounds, an assist and four blocks.
The Caps bounced back though by rocking the Rangers at the Nong. Playmaker Lauren Mansfield enjoyed a season-high 29-point return and Tolo again went solo with an 18-point, 11-rebound double. Carly Wilson's 4-of-8 threes against her former club were substantial.
Soon-to-be sisters-in-law Steph Cumming (22 points, six assists) and Sara Blicavs (14 points, 11 rebounds) led Dandenong, with Ally Malott super efficient with her 14 points on 5-of-6 shooting.
Last round Adelaide opened the scoring against the Lynx in Perth, then drowned under a 15-0 torrent from the home side. Guess what? It was no fluke.
Against the incoming Melbourne Boomers, Perth this time didn't bother to spot the visitors an opening basket, quickly ending the contest with another 15-0 start.
Sami Whitcomb had the weekend's second-best shot, a long almost-chest-pass 3-pointer to end the third quarter, as she and Carley Mijovic dominated the Boomers, the 30-12 first period making the rest of the contest largely academic.
Rd.5 Results
BENDIGO SPIRIT 70 (Raincock-Ekunwe 22, Griffin 14, Richards 13, Karaitiana 10; Griffin 12 rebs; Griffin, Harrington 4 assts) d CANBERRA CAPITALS 58 (Tolo 19, Mansfield 16, Ruef 10; 4 with 7 rebs; Mansfield 6 assts) at The Spirit Level, Bendigo Stadium.
TOWNSVILLE FIRE 85 (Standish 22, Murray 20, Batkovic 16, Wilson 10; Batkovic 12 rebs; Wilson 7 assts) d SYDNEY UNI FLAMES 83 (Mitchell 16, Wilson 13, Boag, Snell, Taylor 12; Taylor 13 rebs; Taylor 6 assts) in overtime at The Fire Station, Townsville RSL Stadium.
CANBERRA CAPITALS 83 (Mansfield 29, Tolo 18, Wilson 12; Tolo 11 rebs; Tolo 7 assts) d DANDENONG RANGERS 70 (Cumming 22, Malott, Blicavs 14; Blicavs 11 rebs; Cumming 6 assts) at The Ranger Station, Dandenong Stadium. PERTH LYNX 90 (Whitcomb 21, Mijovic 20, Edmondson 16, Lee 11; Hamblin 11 rebs; Lavey 8 assts) d MELBOURNE BOOMERS 59 (Smart 16, Garrick 14, Bowen 10; Thompson, Black 7 rebs; Thompson 3 assts) at Jack Bendat Stadium.
TOMORROW: NBL Round 5 Wrap; B.O.T.I. Players of the Week