FSU

Ironwoman plays and plays and ...

With about seven minutes left Sunday against Clemson, freshman point guard Holly Johnson looked to the bench and signaled she needed a breather.

She had played every minute and did not come out against Duke on Thursday. But Johnson quickly realized a television timeout was seconds away, and that break, she figured, would be enough for her to continue.

"I said, 'Coach Sue, I'm fine,"' she said.

Coach Sue Semrau, relying on Johnson with LaQuinta Neely injured, believed her.

"I know she loves it," Semrau said. "That's why it doesn't bother me a second to have to do that with her. Holly's just such a competitor."

Johnson made all four of her free throws down the stretch, finishing with 11 points (her first double-digit game since Dec. 15 against Akron) a career-best-tying eight rebounds, an assist and two turnovers in 40 minutes in a 68-59 victory. Her durability, timely perimeter shooting and steadying court presence bodes well for FSU entering the ACC tournament. FSU is the No. 4 seed and meets No. 5 Georgia Tech in a game it likely must win to stay alive for an NCAA Tournament bid.

"Holly grew up a lot in the last two games," Semrau said.

Johnson, a third-team Parade All-American and the top prep player in Arizona last season, started the first nine games of the season but struggled. She came off the bench in the next 15 games, a change that would have shaken many freshmen.

Not Johnson.

"She is special that way," Semrau said. "She's confident because of the work she's put in all her life."

"If anything, it made me work harder," Johnson said. "It was great to be able to get that experience (starting) in the beginning, and it's carried over and helped me now toward the end. "It was a time for me to sit there and watch Quint and Angela (Sutton) and Tasheika (Morris) and the guards do what they do best and pick up what they do and try to carry that over to my game. To get back out there and start again, it was time to show everyone that I can play."

And play.

And play.

"At the college level, people are smart, and they take away what you do best and make you develop your game," Semrau said. "Holly's a kid who never backs down. There are some kids, and I've had them in this program, people take something away from them and they just go into the tank. But she's just a competitor and didn't let that happen."

I'LL BE BACK, PART I: The women's team honored only Katelyn Vujas during its Senior Day pregame ceremony Sunday. Center Trinetta Moore will petition the NCAA for a sixth season of eligibility, and FSU expects it to be granted.

I'LL BE BACK, PART II: Though the men's basketball team recognized forward/center Mike Mathews at Senior Day on Saturday, he, too, might return in 2003-04. He sat out his first season as a partial qualifier, and if he graduates this summer, he could regain that season. "I have gained more respect for him because he has not had the same role he's had the last couple of years," coach Leonard Hamilton said. "And his attitude has been extremely positive."

LEAGUE CELEBRATION: Heisman Trophy winner Charlie Ward, a two-sport star, is expected to attend the ACC's 50th anniversary gala March 12 in Greensboro, N.C. Ward already has been named one of the league's top 50 male athletes. The top 10 male and female athletes will be named at the event. Tickets are $50. For more information, call toll-free 1-888-397-3100.

-- Brian Landman covers Florida State athletics. He can be reached at (813) 226- 3347 or by e-mail at landman@sptimes. com.

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