Laken Wairau Leaves IU Women's Basketball
Laken Wairau will not return to Indiana for her junior season and will instead finish her time at the school as a student, the program announced Friday.
The seldem-used 5-foot-10 guard played three total minutes last season.
“At this time, I am choosing to step away from basketball to focus on continuing my education at Indiana University,” Wairau said in a team release. “I still very much love Bloomington and am excited about completing my degree in two years. I would like to thank Indiana Women’s Basketball for supporting me in this decision and I wish the program continued success.”
Wairau joined the Hoosiers during the semester break in December 2015 after playing four seasons at Christchurch Girls' High school in Christchurch, New Zealand.
Little was known about her game when she joined the program, but she did help lead Christchurch to a National Championship in 2013. As a senior in New Zealand she averaged 16.5 points, 9.5 rebounds, 4 assists and 2.3 steals per game but was never able to translate that to the NCAA Division I level in the U.S.
“We want to thank Laken for her contributions to Indiana Women’s Basketball and wish her the best in her future endeavors,” head coach Teri Moren said in a release.
Wairau's exit continues a trend of significant roster turnover for Moren's team. Would-be rising sophomore guard Ria Gulley announced her intentions to transfer about a week ago and would-be rising junior guard Tia Elbert announced earlier this month she would graduate early and forego her final two years of eligbility.
Throw in the fact that Indiana also lost five seniors to graduation and suddenly the roster is comprised of just six scholarship players with five true freshmen set to join the program this summer.
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