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Mercury beat Sparks 94-89 for 7th straight victory

By WTOP Staff

BETH HARRIS
AP Sports Writer

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Diana Taurasi put up a 3-pointer in the closing seconds. The ball went in, time expired and the veteran guard had coolly delivered another victory for the Phoenix Mercury. This one was extra special.

Taurasi scored a season-high 32 points, including a season-best seven 3-pointers, playing in front of family and friends from her nearby hometown of Chino, and the Mercury beat the Los Angeles Sparks 94-89 for their seventh straight victory Sunday, tying a franchise record.

“In those moments, you can’t really panic,” Taurasi said. “You actually have to feel the most relaxed because you’ve done all the work. You’ve played 38 minutes. Now, let’s get a good shot and if it goes in, you feel good about it. If you don’t, go on to the next game.”

Penny Taylor hit a go-ahead 3-pointer with 1:18 to play, giving the Mercury a 90-89 lead. They got the ball back on a turnover by Kristi Toliver, leading to Taurasi’s 3 with 8 seconds left that ensured the Mercury’s longest winning streak since August 2006 and the longest in the WNBA this season.

“Diana is amazing,” Sparks forward Nneka Ogwumike said. “She’s going to make some crazy shots.”

Mercury coach Sandy Brondello, a former Sparks assistant, didn’t bother calling a timeout.

“We know what we needed to run,” she said. “Diana made a big play. She’s a great player. That’s what they do.”

Taylor added 17 points, Candice Dupree and Brittney Griner had 15 points each, and DeWanna Bonner had 11 points and eight rebounds for Phoenix (13-3). The Mercury’s winning streak has coincided with Taylor joining the starting lineup on June 15.

Candace Parker scored 10 of her 27 points in the fourth, when the Sparks (7-10) trailed by six to start and fought back to lead by four twice before losing. Toliver added 26 points, including five 3-pointers. They fell to 3-6 at Staples Center.

“It was a big-time heavyweight fight,” Sparks coach Carol Ross said. “They punched hard and fast, and we hit back.”

Los Angeles had chances to win after Toliver’s 3-pointer put the Sparks ahead 89-87 with 2:37 to play. But they were done in by errors. Ogwumike missed two layups and Parker watched as her jumper went in and out with 46 seconds to go.

“We shouldn’t have had to battle back,” Parker said. “I’m tired of all of us being right there. We better get it together soon.”

Phoenix broke open a tie game early in the third with a 10-0 run. Taurasi scored five in a row and Griner added a three-point play to give the Mercury a 62-52 lead. They stretched it to 68-54 on three consecutive baskets, helped by Sparks turnovers.

Ogwumike, Alana Beard and Toliver combined on a 10-5 run to close the Sparks’ deficit to 73-64 going into the fourth.

Los Angeles recovered from its horrible start in the second, taking its first lead of the game on a pair of free throws by Lindsey Harding. The Sparks gained and held onto the lead while Parker was on the bench getting her first break of the game. She returned to help them stretch the lead to seven points on a layup before settling for a 47-45 lead at the break.

The Sparks trailed by 13 three times in the opening quarter, when the Mercury shot 71 percent.

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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