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Taurasi lifts Phoenix to 82-80 win over Lynx

By WTOP Staff

AL BRAVO
Associated Press

PHOENIX (AP) — The matchup of the best two teams in the WNBA came down to the final seconds and Diana Taurasi got the win for the Phoenix Mercury.

The 11-year veteran, who on Friday signed a multi-year extension with her only WNBA club, hit a 20-footer with 2.9 seconds left and Brittney Griner blocked a last-second layup attempt by Minnesota’s Lindsay Whalen to lift the Mercury over the Lynx 82-80 on Saturday, snapping the Lynx’ 11-game winning streak.

“It was kind of a simple play,” Taurasi said. “There wasn’t much time left, so it was kind of get the best shot and hopefully it went in. And today it did, so. there were a lot of plays that led up to that that really kept us in the game.”

Mercury coach Sandy Brondello was more distinct.

“That’s why she is the best player in the world,” Brondello said. “She responded tonight and made big plays when we needed them.”

The win gave Phoenix (26-4) a 2 1/2-game lead over the Lynx going into the last week of the regular season. The Mercury need one win or a Minnesota loss to clinch home court advantage throughout the playoffs. With the two best records in the WNBA, the teams would meet in the Western Conference finals if they advanced out of the first round.

Phoenix won two of the first three meetings, but Minnesota beat Phoenix 75-67 on July 31 to end the Mercury’s franchise record 16-game winning streak.

“This was a playoff game,” Griner said. “They made two runs at the beginning of the game, we weathered the storm, we kept coming back and then at the end, we pulled it off.”

Candice Dupree made a driving layup with 25 seconds left to give Phoenix an 80-78 lead.

Minnesota’s Maya Moore tied it with a runner over Griner with 7.9 seconds remaining, setting up the final sequence.

“I just thought the last five minutes our offensive execution, the quality of shots wasn’t there, it was for them,” Lynx coach Cheryl Reeves said. “Kind of unfortunate, we were right there, throughout most of the game had the lead, and then once they took the lead, you could see the bounce in their step went up. It was great game. They made the plays at the end and we didn’t.”

Moore led all scorers with 30 points for Minnesota (24-7) while Taurasi added 24 for the Mercury.

“We played hard, we had a lot of great hustle and effort but didn’t execute in the second half like we usually do,” Moore said. “But we still shot a great percentage.”

Minnesota shot 48.5 percent but had started the game making 10-of-15.

The Lynx had one last chance with Whalen streaking around the perimeter to the basket, looking for an open player. She tried a layup that was easily blocked by Griner, the new WNBA single-season block record holder.

“That’s a play we have run for (Whalen) for years,” said Reeves. “It’s one of those things that when it doesn’t work you wish you had gone to a different play. But it’s a play that has been successful for us. Obviously Griner made a big play.”

Seimone Augustus tried a jumper at the buzzer that went in and out.

Griner said her 119th block of the season is her new favorite.

“That block goes straight to the top, No. 1,” said Griner, who had 19 points, 11 rebounds and two blocks.

DeWanna Bonner, charged with guarding Moore, the league’s leading scorer, added 16 points and seven rebounds for Phoenix.

Minnesota had won 11 straight — the second longest win streak in franchise history. Phoenix is 20-1 in its last 21 games with the lone loss coming to the Lynx.

Phoenix took the lead with 4:15 left when Griner set a pick on Lindsay Whalen, clearing the way for a Taurasi jumper. After Janel McCarville missed a 3-pointer, Taurasi led the break and hit another 17-footer.

However, Augustus answered back with a pair of baskets to give Minnesota a 78-77 lead with 2:25 left.

Minnesota led 64-61 going into the final period.

In the third quarter, things got testy when Taurasi shoved Moore for the first of three fouls she picked up in the period. Janel McCarville bumped Taurasi, leading the two of them to a standoff but the officials quickly jumped in and no additional fouls were called.

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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