Sept. 20, 2007

COLUMBIA – South Carolina women’s basketball coach Susan Walvius announced the addition of C.J. Pace to her team’s roster. The junior forward who helped Chipola to its last two state championships has two years of eligibility beginning with the 2007-08 season.

“I expect C.J. to make an immediate impact at the 2, 3 or 4 spot for us this year,” Walvius said. “We have been recruiting her to come to South Carolina for several years, and I am glad to finally have the opportunity to coach her. C.J. is a strong player who is a good perimeter shooter and passer. She will add to our team’s maturity on the perimeter.”

With 10.8 points per game, Pace was the second-leading scorer for Chipola last season, shooting 40.9 percent from the field, including 31.96 percent (31-97) from 3-point range. The first-team All-Conference selection added 6.0 rebounds per outing as she helped the Indians to back-to-back Florida Community College Activities Association (FCCAA) state championships. As a sophomore, Pace was named MVP of the state tournament. She went on to earn a spot on the NJCAA National All-Tournament team.

Prior to Chipola, Pace played one year at Oak Hill Academy in Mouth of Wilson, Va. There she guided the Lady Warriors to a 20-6 record and a third-place finish in the highly-regarded National Association of Christian Athletes (NACA) Tournament. Pace posted 18 points, nine rebounds and six assists per game and was named team MVP. Pace played three years at Shiloh High where she was an integral part of a 25-6 team that advanced to the Sweet 16 of the state tournament.

Pace joins a re-tooled Gamecock squad that includes just five returning players from last year’s WNIT team. Walvius and her team open the season with an exhibition game against Lake Truck on Tue., Nov. 6, at 7 p.m. at the Colonial Center.