Falcon hoopsters knock off Pilots, 68-61 Published Dec. 3, 2004 PORTLAND, Ore. (AFPN) -- On the strength of hot first-half shooting and strong all-around play, the visiting Air Force women’s basketball team dealt the University of Portland a 68-61 loss Dec. 2. With the victory, the Falcons moved to 2-3 on the season and captured their first road victory since 2002. The Pilots fell to 2-4 overall.Portland led early in the contest, but Letricia Castillo had the hot hand for the Falcons to start the game, scoring nine of Air Force’s first 12 points. After tying the score 14-14 at the 11:44 mark in the first half, Air Force went on a 17-2 run to jump out front for good. An offensive flurry by the Pilots brought them within 9 points, but the Falcons were able to close out the opening stanza with a 38-28 lead.Air Force, which shot 53 percent from the field in the first half, continued to dominate in the second period, leading by as many as 14 points. However, the Pilots were able to pull within 3 points when Meagan Bermingham shot a three-pointer with 1:43 remaining in the game. Falcon Ellen Jaeschke responded with a layup to extend the lead to five, and the Falcons held on for the victory.Castillo led all scorers with a season-high 16 points, while Jaeschke recorded a career-high 14 points and eight rebounds to go along with two blocks. Also scoring in double-digits for the Falcons was Alecia Steele, who had 13 points and 10 rebounds en route to her third-consecutive double-double. Meanwhile, Lauren Henderson notched a career-high 9 points while dishing out a game-high six assists.Whitney Grant led the Pilots with 15 points, while Bermingham added 12 points, and Ashlee Orndorff had 11. Jamie Medley had a double-double of her own, with 11 points and 16 rebounds.The Falcons play Utah State University at home Dec. 4.