The two-time Olympian averaged 20.5 points and 14 rebounds for the weekend, helping the Flames defeat Adelaide Lightning and the higher-placed Bendigo Spirit to challenge for third place on the WNBL ladder.
Batkovic-Brown said the two wins were more important than any individual performance.
“I just focus on trying to get the win at the end of the day. It doesn’t really bother me whether I score 10 or 20 points as long as we come away with the win,” she said.
Batkovic-Brown top scored with 27 points and posted a game high 16 rebounds as she broke down the Adelaide Lightning defence and dominated inside the paint to lead the Flames to a 77-62 victory on Friday night in Sydney.
The 192cm centre backed up that performance by tallying her second double double of the weekend with 14 points and an equal game high 12 rebounds as the Flames topped the Spirit by one point, 70-69, in Bendigo on Sunday.
The Olympic silver medallist said Friday’s win made up for Sydney’s Round 1 loss to Adelaide.
“Adelaide was the first team I played this season and we lost, so I think we owed them from that game because I thought we were the better team,” Batkovic-Brown said.
“And now we are getting better and better, obviously the team is very young but each week the younger players are just learning and improving.”
The weekend haul maintained Batkovic-Brown’s status as the league’s leading defensive rebounder and lifted her into second place for total rebounds.
She is the league’s second highest scorer, averaging 22.7 points per game, and is the third most prolific shot blocker in the competition.
Batkovic-Brown is the second Sydney player to receive the award in as many weeks; Eva Afeaki was named Player of the Week in Round 7, reflecting the team’s rise up the league ladder.
Young Opals centre Liz Cambage was also a contender for this week’s title. The 203cm Bulleen Boomer top-scored with 30 points and grabbed nine rebounds to lead the Melbourne team past Perth Lynx on Saturday at home.
Other noteworthy performances from Round 8 included:
ADELAIDE LINK LIGHTNING: Cayla Francis posted team high numbers with 17 points and 6 rebounds in an away loss to Sydney. She added 2 assists and 2 blocks.
AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE OF SPORT: Tess Madgen led the AIS with 16 points and 7 rebounds in a home loss to Logan.
BENDIGO BANK SPIRIT: Kristi Harrower top-scored with 23 points, including 13-of-14 from the charity stripe, and tallied 4 assists and 3 rebounds in a home loss to Sydney.
GLOBAL METALS BULLEEN BOOMERS: Elyse Penaluna shot at 73 per cent from the field to go for 8-of-11 and post 18 points. She added 3 assists and 2 rebounds.
CANBERRA TRANSACT CAPITALS: Jess Bibby scored a season high 25 points to lead the Caps over Logan at home on Friday night. On Sunday she added 10 points, 4 steals and 2 rebounds in a road loss to Townsville. Natalie Hurst topped the Caps' scoring against Townsville with 17 points to go with 4 rebounds after posting 14 points and 3 rebounds against Logan.
DANDENONG JAYCO RANGERS: American import Ashley Lindsey posted a monster double double with 18 points and 16 rebounds in a home victory over Perth.
BDS LOGAN THUNDER: Kristen Veal led the Thunder with 17 points, 5 steals and 5 rebounds in a loss to the Capitals and added 10 points, 6 rebounds and 3 steals in a win over the AIS in Canberra. Biancia Abbott led all scorers with 24 points and pulled in 6 rebounds against AIS after bagging 8 points and 5 rebounds against the Caps.
GO FOR 2 AND 5 PERTH LYNX: Danielle Campbell led Perth with 17 points and 5 rebounds in a loss to Dandenong after posting 8 points and 2 rebounds in a loss to Bulleen in a double-header road trip. Melissa Marsh scored a team high 22 points against Bulleen to go with 2 rebounds, 2 assists and a game high 4 steals and added 12 points and 2 rebounds against Dandenong.
ACUVUE SYDNEY UNI FLAMES: Eva Afeaki and Mikaela Dombkins stood up in support of Batkovic-Brown. Dombkins tallied 17 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists against Adelaide and bagged 14 points, 9 rebounds and 2 assists against Bendigo. Afeaki posted 9 points, 9 rebounds, 3 steals and 2 blocks against Adelaide and an 11 point, 12 rebound double double against Bendigo.
TOWNSVILLE MCCAFE FIRE: Aneka Davis top scored with 22 points, adding 10 rebounds for the double double to go with 4 assists in a home win over Canberra.
WNBL Player of the Week 2009/10
Round 1: Elyse Penaluna (Bulleen Boomers)
Round 2: Kristi Harrower (Bendigo Spirit)
Round 3: Angela Marino (Adelaide Lightning)
Round 4: Marianna Tolo (Canberra Capitals)
Round 5: Cayla Francis (Adelaide Lightning)
Round 6: Marianna Tolo (Canberra Capitals)
Round 7: Eva Afeaki (Sydney Uni Flames)
Round 8: Suzy Batkovic-Brown (Sydney Uni Flames)
Photo courtesy of Rob Sheeley
