Pat Charity is the acting University of Hawai'i women's basketball head coach now, and it appears her vocal chords are going to pay the price.

Charity's home debut at her new position was a success last night in a back-and-forth 54-51 victory over New Mexico State last night before 272 at the Stan Sheriff Center.

It was Charity's third game since taking over for Jim Bolla, who is being investigated by the school after allegedly kicking a player earlier this season.

Bolla, who is on paid leave, wasn't at last night's game.

Dallas Bolla, the wife of Jim Bolla, and Matthew Paton ran the team along with Charity.

"Dallas has defense," Charity said. "Coach Paton, because I get so hoarse, I ask him to sit down there and call the offenses for me. If I try to call back-to-back on like a Friday and then try to turn around on Sunday, it's just too hard on my voice because I'm already raspy."

Hawai'i next will host Louisiana Tech tomorrow at 5 p.m.

The Rainbow Wahine got a boost last night off the bench from Allie Patterson, who was 6 of 10 from the field and finished with 16 points.

"I was hoping she'd put me in and get some good minutes," said Patterson, who averaged 12.4 minutes and 4.5 points per game entering last night. "I'm glad she did because I was pumped and ready to play them."

Hawai'i guard Catherine Cho made 3 of 4 free-throw attempts in the final 16.6 seconds. The last two, with 15.3 seconds left, put the Rainbow Wahine up three.

New Mexico State took two timeouts on its final possession, and Madison Spence missed a 3-pointer from the left wing as the final seconds ticked away.

Keisha Kanekoa added 12 points and Dita Liepkalne had nine rebounds for Hawai'i, which held a 35-24 advantage on the boards and a 34-12 edge in points in the paint.

Hawai'i improved to 6-19 overall and 3-9 in the Western Athletic Conference. New Mexico State dropped to 8-18 and 4-8.

There were 18 lead changes and 17 ties in the game.

Hawai'i's largest lead was four; New Mexico State's was six.

The Aggies made eight of their first 10 shots in the second half, but went 1 for 8 the rest of the way. The only field goal was a 3-pointer by Spence, which cut Hawai'i's lead to 51-49 with 17.4 seconds left.

"The one thing that was different was we picked it up on defense, got in passing lanes and just pressured on defense," Kanekoa said.

New Mexico State also made just 8 of 16 free-throw attempts in the second half.

Patterson, a 6-foot-1 sophomore, entered the game with 16:24 left in the first half, and had eight points in each half.

She started the second half in place of Tara Hittle, who injured her left knee late in the first half while chasing after a loose ball.

Hittle didn't return in the second half.