PORTLAND (Interstat) — Maggie Mendelson had 17 points, 17 rebounds and four blocks as Pepperdine pulled away from Portland State for a 59-43 victory in a women’s NCAA Division I basketball game Monday at Stott Center. The Waves improved to 1-0. The Vikings fell to 0-1. An announced attendance of 375 watched Pepperdine score 59 points on 69 possessions while holding Portland State to 43 points on 75 possessions. Mendelson, a forward, played 30 minutes and added one assist. The Waves posted an offensive rating of 86.0, while Portland State finished at 57.3. Pepperdine shot 23 of 56 from the floor, 2 of 13 from 3-point range and 11 of 16 from the free-throw line. Portland State shot 14 of 70 from the field, 4 of 20 from beyond the arc and 11 of 17 from the line.

Portland State kept the opening quarter close and led 14-13 after the first 10 minutes. Taija Sta Maria opened the scoring for Pepperdine with a layup, but Nihoa Dunn answered with a jump shot for Portland State. Laynee Torres-Kahapea made a layup to give the Vikings a 4-2 lead. Mendelson tied the game with a layup, and Dunn answered again with a jumper. Sta Maria and Mendelson then made consecutive layups to put the Waves ahead 8-6. Teagan Colvin made two free throws to tie the game, and Kirstine Munk hit a 3-pointer to give Portland State an 11-8 advantage. Elli Guiney made a free throw, Evelyn Martyn made a layup to tie the game at 11, and Sara Barhoum connected on a 3-pointer for Portland State. Martyn closed the quarter with a layup to cut the Portland State lead to 14-13. The Vikings got early production from Dunn, Torres-Kahapea, Colvin and Munk, while Pepperdine leaned on Sta Maria and Mendelson inside.

Pepperdine took control in the second quarter, outscoring Portland State 13-5 to take a 26-19 lead into halftime. Sta Maria opened the period with a layup for the Waves. Colvin answered with a layup for the Vikings, but Mendelson made a layup and Seleh Harmon followed with another to extend the Pepperdine lead. Mendelson added another layup, and after Kyleigh Brown hit a 3-pointer for Portland State, Mendelson made two free throws. Zoe Shanahan closed the first-half scoring with a 3-pointer for Pepperdine. The Waves held Portland State to five points in the second quarter while building a seven-point halftime cushion. Pepperdine closed the half on a 7-3 run over the final 3:46. Mendelson had a strong first half on the boards and in the paint, and Pepperdine’s defense limited Portland State’s second-chance opportunities.

The decisive stretch came in the third quarter. Pepperdine opened with a 10-1 run, turning a seven-point halftime lead into a 36-20 advantage. Sta Maria made two free throws, Mendelson scored inside, and Harmon hit a 3-pointer and a layup during the burst. After Emma Zuniga scored for Portland State, Pepperdine answered with eight straight points, capped by Mendelson’s layup and Harmon’s jumper. The Waves led 44-24 after three quarters. Portland State made one field goal in the third quarter. Harmon finished with 13 points, five assists and three rebounds. Sta Maria added 11 points, three rebounds, one assist and one block. Guiney contributed five points, seven rebounds, three assists and three blocks. Shanahan had five points, four rebounds and two assists. Keandra Koorits added two points and six rebounds, and Martyn had four points and four rebounds. Pepperdine finished with 10 blocks and 13 offensive rebounds, and it committed 18 turnovers.

Portland State’s fourth-quarter push came too late. The Vikings scored 19 points in the final period but could not cut into the Pepperdine lead enough. Colvin led Portland State with 12 points, eight rebounds and three assists in 35 minutes. Munk, a 6-foot forward from Copenhagen, Denmark, had seven points, eight rebounds and one block in 26 minutes. Zuniga added five points and four rebounds in 25 minutes. Portland State finished with 11 offensive rebounds, six assists and eight turnovers. Nihoa Dunn and Torres-Kahapea each made early baskets for the Vikings, and Liv Collins scored the final Portland State basket and free throw in the closing seconds. Pepperdine’s fourth-quarter scoring included a tip-in by Landrie Callahan, a layup by Guiney and a layup by Shanahan. The Vikings forced 18 Pepperdine turnovers, but Portland State could not overcome its shooting night.

Pepperdine is next scheduled to host UC Santa Barbara. Portland State is set to visit Boise State. The Waves will continue their nonconference schedule after opening the season with a road win. The Vikings will look to rebound after a home loss in which they were held to 14-of-70 shooting. Mendelson’s 17 rebounds helped the Waves control the interior, and her four blocks anchored the defensive effort. Colvin finished with 12 points, eight rebounds and three assists, and Munk had seven points, eight rebounds and one block. Pepperdine finished with four assists, 18 turnovers, 13 offensive rebounds and 10 blocks. Portland State had six assists, eight turnovers and 11 offensive rebounds. Both teams will continue nonconference play.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Pepperdine 69, Portland State 60. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Pepperdine with a 90.5 percent probability to win.