HAMILTON, Ont. –The Mohawk Mountaineers women's basketball team opened their 2025-26 home schedule with a dominant 95-52 win over the Niagara Knights on Saturday.

The victory snapped a seven-game losing streak against Niagara dating back to the 2021-22 season.

Mohawk got off to a slow start, going more than three minutes before scoring its first point and nearly four minutes before its first field goal. The Mountaineers took their first lead with 3:32 remaining in the opening quarter and never trailed again.

Mohawk built a 26-point halftime lead after a commanding 31-12 second quarter. The Mountaineers held Niagara to just four field goals in the frame while shooting 47.8 per cent as a team.

Although the offence cooled in the second half, Mohawk continued to control the game defensively and on the boards. The Mountaineers forced 32 turnovers and outrebounded the Knights 48-35, scoring 52 of their 95 points in the paint.

Joanna Smith (Simcoe, Ont.) and Malak Dahawy (Waterloo, Ont.) led the way off the bench with 13 points each, while Kendra Oliver (Ajax, Ont.) recorded her second straight double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds. Three other Mountaineers finished in double figures.

Mohawk will look to extend its 2-0 start on Oct. 29 when it visits the Sheridan Bruins. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m.