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Moore scores 40 as Lynx win ninth straight

By WTOP Staff

DUANE DaPRON
Associated Press

TULSA, Okla. (AP) — Maya Moore seems to always rise to the occasion when the game is on the line.

The WNBA’s leading scorer had 40 points, including 13 in the final five minutes, as Minnesota won its ninth straight game with an 84-75 victory over Tulsa on Saturday night.

Moore’s scoring output was her 11th game of 30 points or more this season which sets a WNBA record for a single season, surpassing Diana Taurasi’s mark of 10 established in 2008.

After Tulsa’s Tiffany Jackson-Jones tied the game at 69 on a free throw with 5:25 to play, Moore put Minnesota (22-6) ahead to stay with a 3-pointer from the left wing with 5:09 remaining for her 30th point of the game.

She then added a pair of free throws with 4:13 to go for a five-point Lynx advantage. Tulsa (10-19) would get no closer than three points the rest of the way as Minnesota finished the game on a 15-6 run with Moore tallying all but two of her team’s points down the stretch.

“That was what I like to call ‘Maya time,” Minnesota head coach Cheryl Reeve said of her standout’s late-game flourish.

“She is so hard to guard. She does so many things when a game is in the balance.”

Tulsa head coach Fred Williams agreed.

“She (Moore) is one of those players who just hits big shots at the end of the game,” he said.

Seimone Augustus added 22 points for Minnesota. The win was also Minnesota’s 10th straight win on the road against Tulsa. The Shock’s last home win against the Lynx was a 92-79 victory June 4, 2010.

Moore tallied 28 points in the second half. She had 15 points in the third quarter, including nine in a row during one stretch, to help Minnesota increase a one-point halftime advantage to five points entering the final period. Her baseline jumper in the final second of the quarter gave the Lynx a 60-55 advantage.

But Tulsa’s Skylar Diggins, who had only five points through three quarters, had eight straight points in just more than a minute, to bring Tulsa within 67-65 with 6:28 to go. The Shock finally tied the game at 69, the only tie of the contest, when Jackson-Jones connected on the second of two free throws.

Odyssey Sims, who ranks first among WNBA rookies in points, assists and steals paced Tulsa with 25 points, including four 3-pointers.

“She is exactly what we thought she would be when we watched her in college,” Reeve said of Sims. “She has the ‘it’ factor. She knows she belongs. She is competitive. She has confidence in what she is doing.”

Johnson added 17 points and 10 rebounds for her 16th double-double of the season. Diggins finished with 15 points, including 10 in the final quarter on her 24th birthday.

The loss dealt a severe blow to Tulsa’s chances for a post-season berth. The Shock is trying to catch Los Angeles for the fourth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. Tulsa now has five games remaining, with four of those on the road.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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