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Moore helps Lynx beat Shock 80-63 in season finale

By WTOP Staff

JESS MYERS
Associated Press

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — For three quarters, the Tulsa Shock did a nice job of adding to recent frustrations for the Minnesota Lynx. Then everything changed, in a hurry.

Maya Moore had 19 points and 12 rebounds to help the defending champion Lynx snap a three-game losing streak with an 80-63 win over the Shock on Saturday night in the teams’ regular season finale. The Lynx trailed 61-59 early in the fourth quarter before going on a 19-0 run to put the game away.

“We kept trusting the game plan, trying to make Tulsa take tough shots and rebounding the ball,” said Moore, who scored in double figures in every Lynx game this season. “Doing that gave the offense a little pep in our step and on the offensive end, we shared the ball.”

All-Star forward Glory Johnson didn’t play for Tulsa one day after news broke of her engagement to Phoenix Mercury star Brittney Griner. Illness was the official reason given for Johnson sitting out. She averaged 14.7 points and 9.2 rebounds while starting the Shock’s first 33 games, including six points and one rebound in 11 minutes of Tulsa’s loss at Atlanta on Friday night.

Seimone Augustus added 14 points to help Minnesota (25-9) become the first team in WNBA history to have at least 25 wins in four consecutive seasons.

“To be the only team in league history to have that level of success over four seasons, and for us to do it this season with the adversity we’ve faced, I told them I’m very impressed and feel very honored to be a part of it,” Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve said. “They wanted it. I think you could tell. Obviously Tulsa was trying to stand in our way, but we hung in there.”

Minnesota, the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference, will open the playoffs at home on Thursday night against Los Angeles or San Antonio.

“It means a lot to be able to do this on our home floor, knowing we have to come back in here on Thursday and pick up where we left off,” Augustus said. “We definitely wanted to close the season with a win.”

Odyssey Sims scored 31 points to lead Tulsa (12-22). She hit a 3-pointer with 9:41 to play, and the Shock didn’t score again until 1:14 remained in the game. Tulsa was outscored 21-5 in the fourth quarter.

“It was like there was a lid on the basket for us, and on the other it was a compound of calls that didn’t go our way, and there you go,” said Tulsa coach Fred Williams. “The Lynx fed off that and got the crowd pumped up.”

The Shock outplayed Minnesota in both ends of the court over the first 20 minutes, opening up an eight-point lead twice, and holding a 43-37 lead at the break. Sims led all scorers with 21 at halftime — a total that included three 3-pointers. Moore led Minnesota in the first half with eight points.

“They got us over our turnovers,” Sims said. “We didn’t get back into transition.”

The Lynx announced before the game that 11-year veteran forward Rebekkah Brunson has been signed to a multi-year contract extension. Terms of the deal were not released.

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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