CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – Former Rossview girls basketball standout Karle Pace is returning home to Clarksville to finish out her collegiate playing career at Austin Peay.
Pace spent the last four years at Eastern Illinois before making the decision to enter her name into the transfer portal.
“I definitely had fun up there and loved my teammates and coaches,” Pace said. “After getting my degree, I just kind of felt like that chapter of my life was over. It had always been a dream of mine growing up to come and play at Austin Peay, but I didn’t get recruited here out of high school. I just went to where I was wanted. When I heard about the possibility of me getting to play in front of my family again, I really fell in love with the thought of that.”
Rossview girls basketball coach Justin Woods believes Pace will bring a winning attitude and veteran leadership with her to the Governor program.
“I’m thrilled for her,” Woods said. “I’m extremely proud of the player Karle has become, but not at all surprised. She is uber competitive and hates to lose. She’s also one of the most mentally tough players I’ve ever coached. I’m also really excited for the Pace family and obviously for myself because we all get to see her play a lot more this season.”
In 2019-20, Pace averaged 15 points per game and shot 42 percent from beyond the arc to earn first-team All-OVC honors.
“When you combine her work ethic, toughness and confidence, it’s not a surprise at all that she’s become an All-OVC performer,” Woods said.
Pace wrapped up her Panther career, recording a total of 1,387 points which places her just outside the top 10 on the school’s all-time scoring list.
“I loved EIU,” Pace said. “I got handed the keys at a young age and was given the green light to kind of do what I wanted to do. The only thing is there it wasn’t really a winning culture. Obviously we tried to turn it around, we just didn’t have all the pieces that we needed to be successful.
“Personally, I never want to talk about individual stats or stuff like that when my team isn’t winning, but obviously those accomplishments are still pretty big to me. I’m definitely proud of myself for achieving those things despite not being highly recruited out of high school. I just feel like I was able to prove some people wrong and show that I really deserve to be here at the Division I level.”
Having been a four-year starter who played meaningful minutes inside the conference, Pace is confident that her experience can help the Governors in the winning column this upcoming season.
“I think it will definitely benefit me as far as scouting and knowing how to guard certain people,” Pace said. “I think it will also help with our chemistry. Usually, I would come in and play open gym, so I already know a majority of our team and I think that makes the transition a little easier as well.”
Pace led the Lady Hawks to three consecutive district regular-season and tournament titles and its first ever state tournament appearance. She finished her high school career, amassing an impressive 101-29 overall record.
“She is a very confident player,” Woods said. “She wants the ball in her hands in big moments. Always has. She made some big shots for us and did some special things while she was here. There’s a reason why my phone blew up when her name hit the transfer portal.”
It is no secret that Austin Peay has had trouble making noise in the OVC tournament in recent memory. Having made it past the first round herself in 2019, Pace shared her perspective on what it takes to win in the postseason.
“You have to get it done now,” Pace said. “In the workouts before the season and during the summer. Building those relationships, so that you can be as strong as ever, I think is the most important part. Everyone just staying together.”
Pace gave her thoughts on why she believes first-year Lady Governor head coach Brittany Young has what it takes to get the team over the hump.
“So far she has been really great,” Pace said. “She’s really focusing on the details. She’s getting straight to the point with what we need to do to fit the system and be successful. She’s not wasting any time or just thinking about two or three years down the road. She’s thinking about now and I totally agree. I think we have all the pieces in place to definitely bring something home.”
Pace is looking forward to playing in front of family and friends at the Dunn Center when the Lady Govs hit the hardwood in 2021-22.
“I’m super excited,” Pace said. “Everyone has been telling me that they’re coming to the games. They need to quit before I get nervous…I’m just playing, but it’s definitely exciting. It’s been four years and they showed out every time that we came to play Austin Peay, so I know that they’re going to show up for that first game and maybe even all the games.”