ROCK HILL, SC— Winthrop head coach Marlene Stollings announced Monday afternoon that the University of South Carolina freshman Pamela Decheva has announced her intentions to transfer and join the Eagle basketball program in the fall of 2012-13.
 
Decheva will have to sit out next season due to the NCAA “Year In Residence” transfer rules but will be able to practice with the team.
 
“We are ecstatic that Pam has decided to join our Eagle family,” said Stollings, who led the Eagles to an 18-win season and was named the 2011-12 Big South Coach of the Year. “She is mature beyond her years both on and off the court. Pam brings a high level of international pedigree having played on the Bulgarian National Team for several years. Her time in the SEC coupled with a run to the Sweet 16 will be invaluable assets to our program.”
 
Decheva saw action in 15 games for the Gamecocks in 2011-12. She has been on Bulgaria's U-20 roster the past two years. Pam joined Levski of the Women's Basketball League in Bulgaria in 2010-11 and helped her team to a runner-up finish in the league.
 
Decehva hails from a basketball family as her grandmother Vanya Voynova is enshrined in the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame (2001) and the FIBA Hall of Fame (2007) after helping her national team to silver (1959) and bronze (1964) medals in the World Championships.