Pilots earn another big basketball win

  After going five minutes without scoring to start the second half, the Oregon Ducks got a pair of three-point shots from Jordan Loera to cut a 45-35 deficit to four points, and eventually cut the margin to 49-46.

   But, that's as close as Oregon got to the host Portland Pilots, who powered through the end of the game for a 68-49 victory in non-conference women's basketball action Friday afternoon at the Chiles Center.

   Sophomore Kari Luttinen scored a game-high 22 points to lead the Pilots, who improved to 5-7 with their fourth-straight victory.

   "We're a young team, and we've just settled down in the last stretch of games," Portland coach Jim Sollars said. "We're taking better shots and are able to make a higher percentage of those better shots, and that's showing in our results."

   Portland beat three teams from the Big Sky Conference entering the game and have added a Pac-12 team to their resume.

   The Pilots play host to Portland State, Dec. 29.

   Ariel Thomas scored 12 points to lead Oregon, which dropped to 2-9. The Ducks had a significant sign of optimism on their bench, though, as sophomore Ellizabeth Brenner, fresh from helping the volleyball team to the national championship match, was in street clothes and preparing to rejoin the team.