Hawaii guard Ashleigh Karaitiana will rejoin the Rainbow Wahine basketball team for the 2015-16 season after being granted one more year of eligibility, coach Laura Beeman announced Tuesday.

The New Zealand native sat out the 2011-12 season four years ago due to NCAA regulations. The school had not expected that her appeal would be granted and Karaitiana had a traditional senior night sendoff last March.

“I feel very blessed and honored to have the privilege to continue my basketball career as a Rainbow Wahine at the University of Hawaii,” Karaitiana said in a statement. “A big thank you to my coaching staff and Richard Greene (in the UH compliance office) for making this opportunity possible.

“I am ecstatic to be able to represent the state of Hawaii, play in front of our awesome fans and play alongside my teammates for the upcoming season. I look forward to getting back on the floor and making this an experience I will never forget.”

Karaitiana averaged 10 points and 5.0 rebounds last year in helping Hawaii to the Big West regular-season title. She hit a team-high 45 3-pointers, ranking her at No. 8 in the program’s single-season record book.

Karaitiana is one of three returning starters on the 15-player roster that has 10 other veterans back.