HARRISONBURG, Va. - The Saint Joseph's women's basketball team improved to 3-0 to start the season for the first time since 2010-11 as the Hawks topped James Madison, 73-66, Sunday afternoon at the Convocation Center.

Backed by a career-high 25 point from junior Sarah Veilleux and 23 points from senior Chelsea Woods, Saint Joseph's fought back from an early 4-0 deficit to stay in control for most of the game.

James Madison (1-3) opened the game scoring on its first two possessions, but the Hawks quickly battled back. Down 4-0, Saint Joseph's used a 13-2 run to open a seven-point advanatge on a layup by Amanda Fioravanti at 4:44.

The Dukes strung together a 9-2 run of their own to tie the game at 15, but a pair of free throws by junior Kristalyn Baisden and a layup by Adashia Franklyn pushed SJU back ahead, 19-15.

Up four to start the second half, Saint Joseph's saw its lead erased just over three minutes in as a three-pointer by Hailee Barron gave JMU a 44-43 advantage.

Fighting back to a 48-48 tie, the Hawks closed the third quarter on a 7-2 run to take a 55-50 lead.

A three-pointer by Kamiah Smalls brought the Dukes to within three, 57-54, with 8:36 to play, but that would be as close as Saint Joseph's would allow James Madison to get as Woods capped a quick 5-0 run to push her team ahead 62-54.

The Hawks pushed their lead to as many as 12 in the final minutes as they improved to 2-3 all-time verus James Madison.

For the game, Saint Joseph's shot 50.9 percent from the field (27-of-53), 54.5 percent from three-point range (6-of-11) and 61.9 percent from the foul line (13-of-21).

Individually, Veilleux finished 9-of-11 from the field, including 5-of-6 from behind the arc, and added five rebounds, an assist and a blocked shot, while Woods added six rebounds, two assists and two steals. Junior Alyssa Monaghan had a team-best seven assists and seven rebounds to go with five points.

At the other end, Smalls led James Madison with 22 points, while the Dukes shot 36.8 percent overall (25-of-68) and 16.8 percent from three-point range (2-of-11).

Saint Joseph's returns to action next Saturday when it opens the home portion of its schedule with the opening day of the Hawk Classic. The Hawks open the tournament versus Eastern Illinois at 2 p.m. with Delaware and Saint Peter's facing off in the second contest.

Game Notes: Fioravanti had eight points, four assists and four rebounds...Franklyn grabbed two rebounds and had three assists...Fresham Lula Roig added two points and a streal...Baisden finished with four rebounds and two points...Redshirt sophomore Whisper Fisher added a rebound and a steal...James Madison finished with a 39-34 edge in rebounding.

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