Florida basketball player dismissed after theft allegation

Posted January 17, 2015 10:00 pm

The Associated Press

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) - Antoinette Bannister has been dismissed from Florida's women's basketball team after she allegedly stole a teammate's credit card and used it multiple times.

A junior from nearby Jacksonville, Bannister was arrested Friday and charged with theft of a credit card, a misdemeanor, and two felony counts of fraudulent use of a credit card.

According to police, Bannister took teammate Viktorija Dimaite's credit card from the locker room on Nov. 11, 2014. The card was used at two mall locations the following day and three more times Nov. 13. Police say surveillance video from one of the stores "revealed the defendant making the purchase with the stolen card."

Bannister told police she found the card outside the facility and acknowledged using it. Bannister said she threw the card away afterward.

The school says Bannister is "no longer a member of the team."

Bannister, a guard, has played in 13 games this season, including three starts, and averaged 6.2 points. She missed the last two games because of a sprained ankle.

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