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LAS CRUCES, N.M.—The University of Hawai`i women's basketball team (9-15, 4-5 WAC) held on to win a tight-game at New Mexico State (5-10, 2-8 WAC), 58-51. Senior Breanna Arbuckle had a game-high 17 points, Vicky Tagalicod added 13, and Kamilah Jackson registered her 13th double-double of the year with 10 points and 10 rebounds at the Pan American Center on Thursday night.
 
The see-saw game saw 10 lead changes, but at the 15:38 mark in the second half Alissa Campanero made a lay-up to go up, 31-to-30 and the 'Bows never looked back. Hawai`i edged out the Aggies, 41-to-39 in rebounds, but NM State had the advantage in points in the paint (18-to-16); points off turnovers (12-to-9); and second chance points (17-to-4). The Rainbow Wahine sank 7-of-15 from beyond the 3-point arch—6 came in the first half. Campanero and Jackson both drained two a piece while Tagalicod, Kanisha Bello and Courtney Gaddis all had one each.
 
Hawai`i's Arbuckle went 6-for-9 from the floor and sank 5-of-10 free throws with six rebounds, two assists, a steal and a game-high three blocks. Eleven of her 17 points came in the second half. Tagalicod ended up a rebound short of a double-double. She was 5-of-8 in field goals with two free-throws made down the stretch. Jackson was able to record her double-double coming off the bench. She was 3-of-9 with two treys and she too sank key free-throws in the waning moments of the game to seal the win.

The 'Bows were able to close out the game against New Mexico State, ending on a 9-to-3 run that started with an Arbuckle jumper to give UH a 51-48 lead with 3:22 left. Tagalicod then got a lay-up with 1:45 left to go up 53-48. New Mexico State then had four quick fouls to finally push UH into the bonus. But Jackson drained her two freethrows and later Tagalicod sank two as well. New Mexico State's Dre Chenier drilled a 3-pointer with 12 seconds left, but a freethrow by Arbuckle with nine seconds left was enough to notch a "W" in UH's win column.
 
The Aggies were led by Erica Sanchez's 13 points and Tabytha Wampler's 11. Wampler also had a team-high seven boards.
 
It is the first time UH has swept a WAC series since 2007-08 when UH swept both San Jose State and Idaho and it's the first time the Rainbow Wahine have swept New Mexico State since they became a member of the WAC in the 2005-06 season. The win also marks the first time that the 'Bows have won three road games in a season since the 2006-07 season when UH won five road games.
 
The Rainbow Wahine now head to Ruston, La. to face Louisiana Tech this Saturday.