February 1, 2025

FURMAN FALLS TO EAST TENNESSEE STATE, 72-62

TIGERVILLE, S.C. -- Caia Elisaldez scored a season high 24 points and Chattanooga used a decisive second quarter to secure the lead and hold off a late Furman run to claim a 68-60 victory in Southern Conference women's basketball action Saturday afternoon at Hayes Gymnasium on the campus of North Greenville University.

Elisaldez, a sophomore guard, connected on 8-of-16 shots from the field field and was near perfect at the free throw line, converting 8-of-9 opportunities, which she combined with five assists to pace Chattanooga (10-10, 5-2 SoCon).

Brook Anya followed Elisaldez in the scoring column with 12 points, and Sigrun Olafsdottir rounded out the Mocs' double figure scoring effort with 11 points.

Sidney Ryan topped four Paladins in double figures with 15 points, followed by Clare Coyle with 13 and Tate Walters and Raina McGowens with 12 each.

Leading 15-14 after one period, Furman (12-11, 2-5 Socon) was outscored 17-5 in the second period, which turned heavily in the Mocs' favor over the final two and a half minutes of play.  After Olafsdottir put down a layup to give UTC a 25-20 lead, both teams missed shots before Furman's bench was whistled for a technical foul during a Paladin possession.  Elisaldez converted the two free throw opportunities, which she followed with a jump shot on the ensuing possession to stretch UTC's edge to 29-20, and Ava Card completed the late 8-0 spurt with a jumper in the final minute to send the Mocs into the halftime locker room with a 31-20 lead.

Chattanooga led by 15 points in the third quarter before Furman trimmed UTC's advantage to 46-39 on Coyle layup with 17 seconds remaining in the period.

The Paladins managed to stay within striking distance during the fourth quarter, cutting UTC's lead to five points on three occasions before finally making it 64-60 following a pair of Ryan free throws with nine seconds on the clock.  UTC survived the final seconds, however, with four free throws by Olafsdottir, whose 6-for-6 work at the stripe capped Chattanooga's 17-for-20 free throw shooting effort.

Both teams recorded similar shooting performances from the field with Chattanooga converting 24-of-53 shots (45.3 percent) and Furman 20-of-45 (44.4 percent).  The story was the same a the line, where the Paladins knocked down 16-of-19 chances.

Chattanooga finished the contest with a 28-27 edge in rebounding.

The Mocs converted 20 Furman turnovers into 17 points while the Paladins followed up 17 UTC miscues with 12 points.