PHILADELPHIA - Held to just 25.6 percent from the floor, the Saint Joseph's women's basketball team fell to reigning Atlantic 10 champion George Washington, 70-45, Sunday afternoon in both teams' conference opener.

After a back-and-forth start that saw the score knotted at 10-10, the Colonials (11-3, 1-0 A-10) began to assert themselves as they went on a 16-0 run that spanned into the second period to take a 26-10 advantage as a jumper by Jonquel Jones capped the span.

Saint Joseph's (6-7, 0-1 A-10) would snap a six minute scoreless streak on a jumper by Sarah Fairbanks, while a pair of free throws from Amanda Fioravanti brought the Hawks to within 12, 26-14.

That would be as close as the Hawks would get in the second quarter as they entered the half down 40-18 after shooting just 21.1 percent from the field (8-of-38) in the half.

Battling back and forth in the third quarter, Saint Joseph's outscored the Colonials 19-18 in the third period to make it 58-37, but the Hawks would get no closer than 20 in the final period as they hit just 20-of-78 from the floor and were held without a three-pointer for the third time this season.

Individually, Senior Ciara Andrews led SJU with 12 points and added seven rebounds, while Fairbanks finished with 10 points, seven boards, two blocks and two assists. Fioravanti added a team-best 10 boards to go with seven points.

At the other end, George Washington finished 27-of-59 from the field (45.8 percent), 4-of-9 from three-point ranger and 12-of-18 from the foul line. Jones posted 16 points and 13 rebounds, while Lauren Chase added 16 points and five assists.

Saint Joseph's returns to action on Wednesday at Massachusetts at 7 p.m.

Game Notes: The Hawks are now 30-28 all-time versus the Colonials...SJU was outrebounded 49-40, but posted 20 offensive rebounds.