Armstrong quits team again

One day after rejoining her teammates, senior Andrea Armstrong cut ties with the USF women’s basketball team for the second time.

Armstrong, a recent convert to Islam, originally left the team August 30. She told the St. Petersburg Times she was forced to quit after a dispute over religious clothing.

Armstrong then rejoined the team Friday after she met with USF officials, who assured her the school would attempt to make arrangements with the NCAA allowing Armstrong to wear a uniform that would comply with her religion.

USF coach Jose Fernandez said Armstrong was never asked to leave the team. He said she left voluntarily.

Armstrong participated in workouts Tuesday for the first time since her initial resignation.

“Knowing the potential of my team and how hard coach Fernandez and the rest of the coaching staff is working with the team. I don’t want this issue to cause further distraction,” Armstrong wrote in a letter to Fernandez.

Fernandez did not return calls Wednesday night.

Armstrong played one season with the Bulls after transferring from Kansas State, where she played her first two seasons. She started in nine and played in 27 of USF’s 29 games in 2003. She was not projected to start this season.