COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. --- Portland's Alex Fowler scored 20 points, Kate Andersen collected a double-double, and the Pilots ended the game on a 9-0 run to defeat the Air Force Falcons 72-56 in a non-conference women's basketball game played on Saturday afternoon at Clune Arena. Andersen finished with 16 points and 10 rebounds for her second career double-double.
 
The Pilots (5-1) led for most of the game, but the Falcons (1-5) did climb within seven points with 3:07 left to play. From there it was all Portland as Maddie Muhlheim sparked the game-ending run when she hit three free throws after getting fouled behind the three-point arc.
 
Andersen then connected on back-to-back buckets, and Fowler sealed the win with a lay-up.
 
Fowler was 9 of 12 from the floor as the Pilots did most of their damage in the paint, out-scoring the Falcons 44-12 down low. It's the second game this season to score at least 20 points for Fowler, a freshman forward out of Townsville, Australia.
 
Andersen matches her career high in boards to help Pilots claim a sizable 39-17 edge on the glass. Muhlheim added 11 points for Portland, who hit 54.7 percent of their shots. Defensively, the Pilots held Air Force to just 31.1 shooting from the field.
 
Kaelin Immel led the Falcons with 19 points.
 
The Pilots scored the game's first four points, but the Falcons responded and were able to hang around. Fowler had four early points for the Pilots, who led 8-4 four minutes in. Moments later it was Air Force who surged in front, and they'd take a slight 19-16 edge to the second quarter.
 
Portland then embarked on a 14-4 run to re-claim the lead. Keeley Frawley and Muhlheim both drained three's during the outburst, and Andersen hit a tough fade away as the Pilots jumped ahead by seven. Then with three minutes left in the frame, Walker converted down low after Andersen corralled an offensive board, and the Pilots had their biggest lead at 34-25.
 
Air Force recovered before the end of the half, and the Pilots took a 37-35 advantage into the break.
 
Following the same script as earlier, the Pilots began the third period with a run, this time out-scoring the Falcons 9-0. Fowler had a pair of hoops, and Muhlheim connected on a three from deep, which put the Pilots in front 46-35. Air Force then closed the gap a little, but Andersen hit a back-to-back field goals to push their lead back up to 11 points. The Falcons did climb with six by the end of the quarter.
 
Portland then opened a 61-49 lead five minutes into the fourth after Frawley converted in the paint.
 
The Pilots now return home to host the Abilene Christian Wildcats next Friday at the Chiles Center. Tip-off for the non-conference game is set for 2 p.m.