Le’coe Willingham and the Seattle Storm overcame double-digit deficits twice in the past week to defeat two Eastern Conference foes to improve their WNBA-best record to 13-2.

With wins over the Indiana Fever and the Tulsa Shock, Seattle pushed its winning streak to four games and increased its lead in the Western Conference to six games over the San Antonio Silver Stars. It is the third time that the Storm have won at least four consecutive games this season.

Seattle got the week off to a dramatic start with an 85-81 come-from-behind victory over Indiana. The Storm trailed 60-49 with 4:39 left in the third quarter before holding the Fever scoreless for the remainder of the quarter to cut the deficit to 60-58. Seattle took the lead for good with 1:57 left and held on for the win. In the win, Willingham contributed 2 points and four rebounds while also dishing out one assist and grabbing one steal.

The Storm had an even bigger hill to climb in their second game of the week. Seattle trailed Tulsa by as many as 13 points in the second half and by five points entering the fourth quarter, but used a 16-0 fourth quarter run to win 83-72 on the road Sunday. Willingham scored 2 points and secured two rebounds on the day.

The former Tiger standout has played in all 15 of Seattle’s games and is averaging 4.7 points and 3.3 rebounds per game this season.

Seattle will try to build on its lead in the Western Conference when it hosts the second-place San Antonio Silver Stars tonight at 9 before traveling to Los Angeles on Saturday to face the Sparks in a nationally televised game on ESPN2 at 4 p.m.

The Phoenix Mercury and DeWanna Bonner struggled last week, losing both of their games.

Phoenix began the week losing its second straight game to the Connecticut Sun, falling 82-79 Friday, despite Bonner’s third double-double of the season. The 2009 SEC Player of the Year finished the day with 14 points and 10 rebounds.

The Mercury’s losing streak grew to four games with a 95-85 loss to the Washington Mystics on Sunday.  Bonner was her team’s second-leading scorer and rebounder on the day, totaling 16 points and six rebounds while also contributing two assists and two steals. It was the eighth game this season in which the Fairfield native has scored in double figures.

Bonner is having a solid sophomore campaign ,ranking 32nd in the league in scoring at 11.4 points and 11th in rebounding, averaging 7.1 boards per game.

Phoenix will play three games this week against Eastern Conference foes. The week begins with a road game against the top team in the conference, the Atlanta Dream, tonight at 6. The Mercury then return home for two games to conclude the week, beginning with a game against the Washington Mystics at 9 p.m. Thursday followed by a Sunday night contest against the New York Liberty at 9.

Clanton makes quarterfinals
NOTRE DAME, Ind. — Auburn rising senior Cydney Clanton advanced to the quarterfinals of the United States Women’s Amateur Public Links Championship last weekend, falling to Sara Grantham, 1-up. Clanton was one of three Tigers that advanced to the match play portion of the tournament.

Conducted by the United States Golf Association, the U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links is a tournament open to any female golfer who does not hold privileges at any course which does not extend playing privileges to the general public. The event was contested at the par-71, 6,133-yard Warren Golf Course at Notre Dame.

Clanton, a native of Concord, N.C., became a repeat quarterfinalist in the event after she defeated Kathryn Rogner, 4&3; Kelli Oride, 5&3; and No. 1 overall seed Ariya Jutanugarn, 1-up. She advanced to the match play portion of the tournament by finishing in a tie for 15th in the 156-player field with rounds of 71-74—145.

Also advancing to match play were Candace Schepperle and Karlin Beck.

Clanton and Schepperle were two of only six players that were exempt from qualifying for the tournament based on their play in past USGA events.

Schepperle, who just finished her senior season at Auburn, ranked in a tie for seventh in the stroke play portion with rounds of 70-74—144.

The Birmingham native then defeated Lindsay Danielson, 5&4, in the first round before falling to Stephanie Kono in 23 holes in the second round.

Beck, a native of Pike Road, Ala., finished in a tie for 41st in the stroke play portion with rounds of 74-75—149, but fell in her first round match to Joy Trotter, 4&3.

In the championship final, Emily Tubert downed Lisa McCloskey, 3&2, for the title.