WINDSOR, Ont. – Joanna Smith scored a career-high 31 points as the top-ranked Mohawk Mountaineers women's basketball team extended its unbeaten streak to 11 games with a 96-75 victory over the St. Clair Saints on Saturday.

Smith's (Simcoe, Ont.) performance marked the second time this season the guard has set a new career scoring high.

Mohawk jumped out to a 15-8 lead in the opening quarter but allowed a late Saints run that tied the game 17-17 after the first.

The Mountaineers looked to pull away in the second quarter, but St. Clair continued to answer offensively. Mohawk carried a narrow 38-35 lead into halftime.

The Mountaineers took control after the break as their offence picked up in the third quarter. Smith scored 18 of her 31 points in the second half, while Mohawk shot 47.4 per cent in the third quarter and connected on four three-pointers to extend its lead to 11.

Despite playing the second game of a back-to-back, Mohawk continued to build momentum in the fourth quarter. The Mountaineers shot 57.9 per cent in the final frame, scoring 30 points and pushing the lead to a game-high 21 with 4:44 remaining.

Along with Smith's scoring effort, Mohawk received double-doubles from Tiffany Williams (Hamilton, Ont.) and Maddie Anderson (Whitby, Ont.). Williams finished with 17 points and 12 rebounds, while Anderson recorded 15 points, 11 rebounds and six assists.

Mohawk will look to continue its winning streak on Jan. 21 when it visits the Niagara Knights in Welland, Ont., with tipoff set for 6 p.m.