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Catchings scores 25 to lead Fever past Sky, 71-67

By WTOP Staff

JASON HADDIX
Associated Press

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — With a chance to improve their seeding for the playoffs, the Indiana Fever jumped out to a big early and then had to hold off the Chicago Sky.

Tamika Catchings scored 25 points and Briann January added 14 to help the Fever beat the Sky 71-67 Saturday night, securing the No. 2 seed and home-court advantage in the first round.

Indiana (16-17) shot 66.7 percent during the first quarter to take an 18-point lead before finishing the period up 32-16, marking its highest first-quarter scoring total this season.

“I am really proud of our team with the way we came out tonight,” Catchings said. “I thought we came out focused and ready to play. Our first half we have been doing really well the last couple games.”

The Sky then outscored Indiana 36-22 during the second and third quarters and cut the Fever’s lead to 69-67 with 36 seconds to play. Chicago shot 41.7 percent during the final three quarters, while holding the Fever to 29.8.

Catchings scored 10 points in the final period and made two free throws with 14 seconds remaining to make it a two-possession lead.

“In crunch time you know where we are going,” Fever coach Lin Dunn said. “You can expect Briann January and Tamika Catchings to have something to do with how we finish the game.”

Allie Quigley scored 17 points to lead Chicago (15-18), and Elena Delle Donne added 14 points and seven rebounds. The Sky remained a half-game behind Washington for third-place in the East and can get the No. 3 seed with a win against San Antonio on Sunday.

“I thought we had some hollow possessions,” Chicago coach Pokey Chatman said. “They didn’t do the dirty work. I mean we were minus 11 on the boards. The paint points were 34-20 and second chance points (18-7). Can’t beat anybody if you don’t put in work with those things.”

Sylvia Fowles, Chicago’s third leading scored was held to four points, nearly 10 below her average. All of her points came in the first quarter.

“I thought the key to the game … was the defense we did on Syliva Fowles,” Dunn said. “Anytime Sylvia is not scoring then we have a chance to win.

She averaged 18 points in the two games she has played against the Fever this season.

Dunn was honored with multiple recognitions during a pregame ceremony that including the raising of a banner in the rafters of Bankers Life Fieldhouse. The newly elected Women’s Basketball Hall of Famer coached her last regular season home game.

“I think that kind of sparked us,” Catchings said of the pregame ceremony. “Knowing what the game meant for Lin, this is something that she will remember for the rest of her life. That is something (the team) talked about, ‘let’s win this for her’.”

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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