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Phoenix hopes to close out Chicago in WNBA Final

By WTOP Staff

DOUG FEINBERG
AP Basketball Writer

After dominating the Chicago Sky in the first two games of the WNBA Finals, Diana Taurasi and her Phoenix Mercury know that closing out the series won’t be as easy.

Especially if star center Brittney Griner can’t play after being hit in the right eye in Game 2 of the series. Griner didn’t travel with the team to Chicago and the Mercury announced Thursday that she underwent an outpatient procedure to correct a retinal issue. She’s listed as a game-time decision for Friday night.

“You know as much as I do at the moment,” Phoenix coach Sandy Brondello said before practice on Thursday. “She’ll be evaluated in the morning and hopefully she can play. If she can’t play, we’ll have to be ready for that.”

Griner, averaging 15.5 points, 6.5 rebounds and 6 blocks in the series, also got hit in the mouth and lost part of her tooth in Game 2.

“If I lose an eye, I’ll play with one. It’s the finals,” she said after Tuesday’s win.

Even if Phoenix’s 6-foot-8 star blocker and dunker can’t play, Chicago will need to figure out a way to slow the potent Mercury offense. Phoenix shot 57 percent from the field and averaged 90 points so far in the series.

The Sky hope a change of scenery could do it. Game 3 of the best-of-five series will be in Chicago, but the Sky won’t be able to play at their regular home, the Allstate Arena, because of a previously schedule Garth Brooks concert. The game will be played at the team’s former home — the University of Illinois-Chicago.

“Without a doubt, they’ll have great support,” Brondello said. “Everyone plays better on their home court. Winning that closeout game is always hard. We need to focus on coming out ready to play and playing at 100 percent. Ninety percent won’t be good enough with or without BG. We’ll just need to do what we’ve done all season.”

A Phoenix win Friday would give the Mercury a third WNBA title and their first since 2009. It would close out a stellar season, with the team setting the WNBA record for most wins in the regular season (29).

The Sky look to play the way they did for the first 15 minutes against Phoenix in Game 2. Elena Delle Donne didn’t appear to be hampered by a back injury, which sidelined her for most of Game 1. She had 22 points on Tuesday, but received little help on offense. She also was in foul trouble toward the end of the second quarter when the Mercury took command of the game.

Delle Donne says her back is better.

“I’m getting a lot of work on it now especially that I’m home and able to see some of my people,” the second-year star said.

Chicago faced elimination games in both rounds of the playoffs, staving off their opponents each time.

“It’s not like we haven’t been here before,” Delle Donne said. “Throughout the playoffs, it’s felt like our backs have been against the ropes, and obviously we have a lot to clean up and fix on our end.

“They’re a phenomenal team. They’re going to make a lot of runs, but we are home now and we’re going to have the home crowd behind us and make a run here.”

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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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