WELLAND, Ont. – The No. 1 nationally ranked Mohawk Mountaineers women's basketball team extended its unbeaten streak to 12 games with an 82-59 victory over the Niagara Knights on Wednesday night.

The win surpasses Mohawk's total from last season, when the Mountaineers claimed the OCAA championship.

Despite shooting just 3-of-23 from beyond the arc and 11-of-23 from the free-throw line, Mohawk pulled away by dominating inside. The Mountaineers shot 41 per cent from the field and scored 44 points in the paint.

Mohawk jumped out to an 11-5 lead in the opening quarter and continued to lead by eight with under three minutes remaining. Niagara closed the frame on a late run, however, and took a 23-22 lead at the end of the first.

The Mountaineers regained the lead two minutes into the second quarter and never trailed again. The Knights pulled within one on three occasions, but Mohawk closed the half with a 7-3 run to take a 42-37 advantage.

Mohawk's defence took control in the third quarter, holding Niagara to nine points on 2-of-14 shooting (14.3 per cent). By the end of the period, the Mountaineers had built a 16-point lead.

With 18 seconds remaining in the contest, Mohawk stretched the margin to a game-high 26 points.

Kendra Oliver (Ajax, Ont.) led the Mountaineers off the bench with 17 points and nine rebounds. Maddie Anderson (Whitby, Ont.), Joanna Smith (Simcoe, Ont.) and Tiffany Williams (Hamilton, Ont.) each added 12 points, while Williams recorded a double-double with 13 rebounds.

After three consecutive road games, the Mountaineers return home on Jan. 28 to host the Conestoga Condors at 6 p.m.