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Parker leads Sparks to 80-77 OT win over Dream

By WTOP Staff

CURTIS ZUPKE
Associated Press

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Atlanta Dream coach Michael Cooper was in Candace Parker’s ear for much of Friday night. But Parker got the last word on her former coach.

Parker made two free throws with 1.8 seconds remaining and the Los Angeles Sparks held on for an 80-77 overtime win against Cooper and Atlanta.

Parker scored 26 points and Jantel Lavender added 15 as the Sparks (14-16) moved closer to a playoff berth. Nneka Ogwumike had 14 points and 12 rebounds as the Sparks spoiled the homecoming of Cooper, who made his first appearance at Staples Center as Atlanta coach.

Cooper, who is recovering from surgery for tongue cancer, served two stints as Sparks coach. He guided them to WNBA titles in 2001-02 and later coached Parker.

“I love that man,” Parker said. “He’s one of the best coaches I’ve had. We still have a very close relationship and I really care about him and I’m happy to see him healthy. It’s fun. He always has something smart to say when I’m coming in from a timeout or standing in the corner. It’s always fun to be on the court with him.”

Cooper could only watch as the Eastern Conference-leading Dream (17-13) lost their fourth straight. Erika de Souza scored 21 points while Shoni Schimmel and Angel McCoughtry each scored 12 points.

Atlanta had a chance to tie it but Schimmel’s 3-point attempt was after the buzzer and fell short.

Cooper coached against Sparks general manager Penny Toler, who was GM during Cooper’s L.A. tenure. Former Los Angeles Lakers teammate A.C. Green attended the game, although Sparks owner Magic Johnson did not as he was attending the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame induction ceremonies.

“Great memories here,” Cooper said. “It was kind of fun playing against coach Penny Toler. But a lot of things we had built up over the years here — winning a championship on this court — (it’s) kind of like tearing it down a little bit. But still, it’s a fun, competitive sport. I’m with a very good basketball team in Atlanta and looking to build championship hopes and dreams there.”

Atlanta pulled to 78-77 with 4.7 seconds left on Schimmel’s 3-pointer before Parker made both free throws. Kristi Toliver’s 3-pointer from the right side gave the Sparks the lead for good at 76-74 and Atlanta was forced to foul.

The Sparks outscored the Dream, 46-40, in the paint after they allowed 60 points in the paint to the Tulsa Shock on Tuesday.

“It was a big focal point,” Parker said. “We got our butts kicked on the boards the other night against Tulsa, and that was the reason why I think we lost the game.”

McCoughtry went 5-for-20 from the field and is 5-for-25 in her past two games. Her long 3-point attempt hit the back of the rim as time expired in regulation.

“She just has to fight through it,” Cooper said. “Great players have those games where the ball won’t go in . I’ve still got a lot of faith in her. I’m going to put the ball in her hands at the end.”

Atlanta took its first lead at 65-64 after it could not get within two points in the first 14 minutes of the second half. Schimmel made three 3-pointers in the first four minutes of the fourth quarter to help the Dream rally. De Souza also had 11 rebounds and Sancho Lyttle had 12.

Toler said she hadn’t thought about coaching against Cooper but realized she has bragging rights.

“I was just happy that Michael was OK from the tongue cancer,” Toler said. “It’s always great seeing him. But now that I’m thinking about it, I will be texting him tonight, ‘1-0.'”

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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