GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Senior golfer Sarah Johnston was recognized as Furman University's Female Athlete-of-the-Year at the school,s women,s athletic banquet Wednesday night in Hartness Pavillion.

Johnston, who last week was named to the National Golf Coaches Association All-America second team, was a first-team All-Southern Conference selection and league Player of the Year in 2004. In addition, she won the Southern Conference's individual title and led her squad into the NCAA Postseason and a 15th-place finish in the nation for Division I Golf. In addition to recording a career-low 67 in the 2004 Liz Murphey Intercollegiate, Johnston was Furman's top finisher in five tournaments and counted in all 34 competitive rounds. This season, she fired par or better 10 times and had eight top 20 finishes and five top 10s. Her 2004 season stroke average of 74.3 ranks fourth all-time at Furman , just ahead of LPGA great Dottie Pepper's senior season

In addition to Johnston's Female Athlete of the Year Award, senior cross country and track runner Rebekah Potts was presented with the Elizabeth Blackwell Academic Achievement Award. Potts will graduate next month with a 4.0 in chemistry and will continue her education in the dual M.D., Ph.D. program at the Univeristy of North Carolina's medical school. Lastly, Lady Paladin golf coach Mic Potter was honored as the school's J. Lyles Alley Coach of the Year. Potter led his squad to a 15th-place finish in the NCAA Championships and saw two of his squad members earn All-America honors.

Other sports most valuable player awards were presented to Kim Lawrence (Basketball), Caroline Bentley (Tennis), Golf (Sarah Johnston), Andre,a Morrison and Katharine Kelley (Soccer), Beverly Roberts and Whitney Sharp (Cross Country), Molly Mungovan (Track), Rachel Henley (Softball) and Amber Montague (Volleyball).

2003-04 FURMAN UNIVERSITY WOMEN,S SPORTS AWARD WINNERS
Female Athlete-Of-The-Year Award Sarah Johnston
Elizabeth Blackwell Academic Achievement Award: Rebekah Potts
J. Lyles Alley Coach of the Year: Mic Potter

Women's Basketball MVP: Kim Lawrence
Women's Tennis MVP: Caroline Bentley
Women's Golf MVP: Sarah Johnston
Women's Soccer MVP: Andre'a Morrison and Katharine Kelley
Women's Cross Country MVP: Beverly Roberts and Whitney Sharp
Women's Track MVP: Molly Mungovan
Softball: Rachel Henley
Volleyball: Amber Montague