CHATTANOOGA, TENN. – Caia Elisaldez scored 19 points and Chattanooga rode a strong start on the way to a 61-44 victory over Furman in Southern Conference women's basketball Saturday afternoon at McKenzie Arena.

The victory improves Chattanooga to 10-5 overall on the season and 2-0 in SoCon play while Furman falls to 9-8 and 1-1 in league play.

The Mocs grabbed control from the outset, connecting on 8-of-15 shots in the first period while using strong defense to limit the Paladins to just 2-of-14 over the game's first 10 minutes to take a 20-5 lead.  UTC led 31-17 at intermission and was never threatened in the contest.

Elisadez put down 9-of-16 shots from the field to pace Chattanooga, which shot 46 percent from the field (23x50).  Gianna Corbitt was the only other Mocs player to tally double figures 10 points, which she combined with 13 rebounds.

Furman was led by three players with eight points apiece — Clare Coyle, Sophia Pearl, and Chantelle Stuart.  Coyle suffered through a frustrating shooting performance (3x14) but was credited with a game high 16 rebounds, one off her career high in a 90-89 overtime win over Georgia State in November.

The Paladins shot 27.6 percent from the field, hitting on just 16-of-58 attempts, and committed 20 turnovers.

Furman returns home to tip off its SoCon home schedule next Thursday against UNC Greensboro in a 7:00 p.m. game at Timmons Arena.