GREENVILLE, S.C. --- Chattanooga women's basketball came, saw and conquered the Furman Paladins on Saturday in Greenville, with the Mocs leading for over 36 minutes of game time in what was an eventual 68-60 victory for UTC.
The Mocs (10-10, 5-2 SoCon) entered hostile territory on Saturday, but thanks in large part to a career-high 24 points by sophomore Caia Elisaldez, the Mocs earned their fifth SoCon win of the season as the team hits the midway point of the SoCon schedule.
"I think me being the perfectionist I am, I'm always dissecting, and that game shouldn't have been that close," head coach Deandra Schirmer said. "We should have done this or that right after the game. I'm thinking all those things. But a wise man once said, my mentor Paul Honsinger, he said, 'Sometimes you gotta get a win and get the hell out,' and that's what it felt like tonight.
"I feel like our group is starting to understand that we don't need to win pretty. I'm a big football fan, but I think to the Kansas City Chiefs. With my Chiefs this year, it hasn't been pretty, but we don't need to win pretty if they buy into that."
The Mocs got off to a hot start to the day, scoring the game's first five points of the game. While UTC was then able to hold the lead for much of the first quarter, a late pair of baskets by Furman saw the Paladins leading 15-14 through the opening 10 minutes.
That lead wouldn't last long for the Paladins, as the Mocs came out ready to rumble in the second frame with Chattanooga out-scoring Furman 17-5 over the course of the second quarter. Elisaldez led the charge for the Mocs while UTC's tenacious defense stonewalled the Paladins. Heading into the halftime break, the Mocs were looking at a double-digit lead with Chattanooga up 31-20.
UTC kept their distance from the Paladins over the course of the third period, not allowing Furman to really gain an inch and finding a response for every basket by the Paladins. Heading into the fourth quarter ahead 48-39, the Mocs had their sights set on closing out the day with a W.
A full court press by Furman in the final 10 minutes gave the Mocs some issues, but having been in a similar situation earlier in the season, the Mocs took Furman's best shot and still stood standing. The closest the Paladins were able to make it was a 64-60 UTC lead with nine seconds remaining.
With a technical foul on Furman and some clutch free throws by Sigrun Olafsdottir, the Mocs blew that lead right back up to eight as the final buzzer sounded. With a 68-60 scoreline, UTC picked up a massive win to now sit just one game back from first place in the SoCon standings as the league heads into the second half of league play.
FROM THE HEAD COACH | QUOTES
On the play of Caia Elisaldez
"Caia did an excellent job. We tell Caia all the time, 'don't play percentages in your head. If somebody's open, hit them and they're going to hit the shot.' I think that she was unguardable tonight. 24 points, five assists, six fouls drawn. Her plus/minus was at eight. I mean, fantastic job for her. I think that she's settling into that dominant role, and I think teams are going to have to figure something else out because she's been just so dominant for us the last couple games. I just feel like the maturity of Caia, we're seeing a superstar right now."
TOP TAKEAWAYS | NOTES
- This was the 93rd meeting between Chattanooga and Furman.
- The Mocs now lead the all-time series 62-31.
- UTC has won its last six games against the Paladins dating back to a Mar. 3, 2022, loss (FUR won 70-63 in overtime).
- The Mocs are 29-16 when playing the Paladins in Greenville.
- Today's game was hosted at North Greenville University and counted as a Furman home game.
- Chattanooga currently holds the longest active streak in the entire NCAA when it comes to consecutive games with a made three-pointer.
- Dating back to December 1999, UTC has made a three-pointer in 796 straight games.
- UTC shot 45.3 percent (24-for-53) from the floor in the game.
- This snaps a three-game streak of the Mocs shooting below 40 percent as a team.
- The Mocs narrowly won the rebounding battle, 28-27.
- UTC finished 17-for-20 (85 percent) from the free throw line.
- This marks the most free throws made and free throw attempts in a game this season.
- The Mocs led for a total of 36:30 of the game.
- The game featured only two leads changes and two ties.
- Chattanooga ended the day with 11 steals compared to Furman's eight.
- Both teams also relied heavily upon inside scoring, with each team scoring 32 in the paint.
- Caia Elisaldez scored a career-high 24 points, her second consecutive 20+ point outing.
UP NEXT: UNCG
The Mocs now return home for a pair of in-conference clashes, starting first on Thursday, February 6 with UNC Greensboro coming to town. Thursday's game against the Spartans is set for a 6 p.m. ET start time and will be available to stream on ESPN+. It will also be available over the radio on WFLI 96.1 FM/100.3 FM/1070 AM.
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