The Hawaii women’s basketball team earned its first Western Athletic Conference road victory in over two years with a 57-52 effort tonight over New Mexico State at the Pan American Center in Las Cruces, N.M.

UH (9-16, 3-9 WAC) won for the third time in four games and moved up to sole possession of seventh place in the WAC with the victory, vastly improving its chances of qualifying for the WAC tournament next month.

Senior guard Megan Tinnin led the Rainbow Wahine with 14 points in her return to her home state, while freshman forward Kamilah Jackson added her 10th double-double of the season.

UH last won on the WAC road at Utah State on Jan. 30, 2009, then lost 18 straight. It was the first such victory for second-year UH coach Dana Takahara-Dias in 15 tries.

The Wahine led 26-21 at halftime and countered a 9-1 Aggies run that got the hosts the lead at 41-39 with 9 minutes to play.

Freshman wing Shawna Kuehu came back with a three-point play that got UH the lead for good.

NMSU (10-14, 4-6) had no answer for UH on the glass and couldn’t capitalize on over 20 Wahine turnovers.

The Rainbow Wahine finish their three-game road trip at first-place Louisiana Tech on Thursday.