WASHINGTON, D.C. - In a tight battle throughout, George Washington used an 11-2 run to close out the game and top Saint Joseph's, 53-44, Wednesday evening at the Charles E. Smith Center.

Down 39-33 to start the fourth quarter, the Hawks (3-11, 0-2 Atlantic 10) used a 7-0 run to start the period and take their first lead of the game, 40-39, on a layup by senior Jaryn Garner with 7:34 to play. 

The Colonials (10-5, 3-0 A-10) answered back with a three-point play by Lexi Martins, but Garner followed with a jumper to tie the game at 42 all with 6:19 to play

From there though George Washington would take control. Behind seven straight points, the Colonials opened a 49-42 game.

Saint Joseph's cut it to 49-44 on a layup by rookie Katie Armstrong. However that would be as close as the visiting Hawks would get as Martins connected on four free throws to close out the game.

For the game, the Hawks went 17-of-46 from the field (37 percent), 4-of-13 from behind the arc (30.8 percent) and 6-of-9 from the foul line. 

Sophomore Kristalyn Baisden led SJU with 12 points, while senior Amanda Fioravanti added 10 points and four rebounds.

At the other end, George Washington went 20-of-55 from the field (36.4 percent), 3-of-17 from three-point range (17.6 percent) and 10-of-18 from the foul line. Martins led all players with 17 points and 11 rebounds.

The Hawks return to action on Saturday when they host Massachusetts at 2 p.m.

Game Notes: Garner finished with six points, four assists, three rebounds and two steals...Armstrong finished with two points, two rebounds, an assist, a steal and a blocked shot...Senior Adashia Franklyn had a team-high nine rebounds to go with six points...Senior Mackenzie Rule added an assist, a steal and three rebounds...Classmate Jazmin Horne played four minutes...Sophomore Micala Clay played six minutes...GW finished with a 40-30 edge in rebounds.