PHILADELPHIA, PA (4/13/02) - The Saint Joseph's University women's rowing team took part in the George Washington Invitational on Saturday, and then returned home to host Rhode Island and Drexel in an Invitational on Sunday on the Schuylkill River. The Hawks took to the Potomac River on Saturday, racing in the varsity eight, junior varsity eight and freshmen eight. In the junior varsity eight, SJU rowed a strong race in the petite final, dueling Atlantic 10 rival and event host George Washington. The two boats were bow-to-bow until SJU pulled ahead in the final 700 meters to claim victory. Rowing for the junior varsity eight this week was coxswain Ashley Milspaw, Stef Smith, Jenn Wilson, Mary Jameson, Rebecca Celotto, Tara Smith, Sara Banfer, Meg Nechanicky and Suzanne Phillips. The varsity eight had a tougher run, trailing strong crews from Georgetown, George Washington and George Mason from the outset. The Hawks made a strong finishing run, closing to within 0.2 seconds of George Mason, but still finished fourth. The freshmen eight led at the start of their petite final against Columbia and George Mason. Columbia, however, overtook the young Hawks, which held on for second place. On Sunday, back on the familiar Schuylkill waters, SJU won its races in the quad, junior varsity eight, freshman four and eight against crews from Rhode Island and Drexel. All but the 2nd varsity eight led from the outset. The 2nd varsity boat took control at the 1000-meter mark, overcoming a challenge from Rhode Island, to win handily. The varsity eight crew was the only one not to come away victorious, placing third in the three-boat race. The Hawk women will compete at the Murphy Cup Regatta on Saturday and host Drake on Sunday. Both events will be held on the Schuylkill River.