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US routs Spain for second straight gold medal

By WTOP Staff

DOUG FEINBERG
AP Basketball Writer

ISTANBUL (AP) — After dominantly winning another world championship, the U.S. women’s basketball team left no doubt of the gap between the Americans and the rest of the world.

And with so much young talent in the system, it might be a while before anyone can catch up.

Maya Moore scored 18 points and earned MVP honors as the Americans beat Spain 77-64 on Sunday to win a second straight world title.

With Moore, Brittney Griner, Tina Charles and a host of others still yet to reach their primes, it’s a scary thought.

“This was a great first taste,” Griner said. “It leaves me hungry for more. I’m going to pin this medal up on my wall. It’s the biggest thing I’ve ever won.”

With the exception of the Australia game, when Griner got in early foul trouble, the 6-foot-8 star was exceptional in making the all-tournament team. She had the first dunk in tournament history in the opener against China and dominated on both ends of the court.

“She has potential to be one of the best ever,” coach Geno Auriemma said. “She is very coachable and picks things up very quickly.”

Next up for the Americans is the 2016 Olympics in Rio. There’s no reason to think they won’t be a heavy favorite for a sixth straight gold there.

That Olympics could be the last go-round for Sue Bird and a few others, but with the young core still intact, as well as players like Chiney Ogwumike, Breanna Stewart and Elena Delle Donne in the pipeline, it will be hard to see the U.S. not continuing this run for a long time.

Bird became the most decorated player in world championship history with Sunday’s gold. She has won three gold medals and a bronze in her career.

“It was a great win for us,” Bird said. “We had one goal the entire time this team’s been together and that’s win a gold medal. A lot of people see a lot of talent and think it’s going to be easy and it’s not. Whenever you can win a gold medal and it’s a tough journey, everyone’s happy. I’m definitely proud of this team.”

Lindsay Whalen added 12 points for the United States (6-0), which hasn’t lost in a gold-medal game in the world championship since 1983, when it was beaten by the Soviet Union 84-82. Except for a hiccup in 2006, when the Americans lost to Russia in the semifinals, they have won every Olympic and world championship game since 1996. If not for that upset in Brazil, the U.S. would have five straight world titles.

“I know when I hear 2006, it still makes me mad.,” Bird said of her only bronze medal.

The Americans jumped out to a 13-point lead in the game’s first 4 1/2 minutes. Spain (5-1) could only get within seven the rest of the way.

Moore was the key in that early burst, scoring 11 points during the opening 18-5 run. Her 3-pointers barely moved the net as the Americans blitzed Spain, which was making its first appearance in the championship game.

“It’s always a focus, we want to punch first,” Moore said. “I put pressure on myself and the starting five, we put pressure on ourselves to get a good start, set the tone for the game.”

The Spaniards rallied within 24-17, but then Whalen took over. She had nine points during a 13-0 run by the Americans spanning the end of the first and start of the second quarter to make it a 20-point game. Whalen ended the first quarter with a spectacular drive that ended with a floater in the lane right before the buzzer.

“We knew that we had to come in and provide a spark and I had an aggressive mentality,” Whalen said.

The Americans led 48-29 at the half and by 25 points in the second half before Spain closed the game with a 14-2 run.

“It’s sweet to have a silver medal around your neck as we are one step closer to a gold,” said Sancho Lyttle, who led Spain with 16 points. “But it also hurts because we know we were almost there.”

___

Follow Doug on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/dougfeinberg

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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