VILLANOVA, Pa. – Despite a monstrous 22-point, 15-rebound double-double from freshman forward Claire Melia, the Saint Joseph's women's basketball squad saw a four-point lead at the halftime break disappear en route to a 60-44 loss to Villanova at Finneran Pavilion on Saturday afternoon. With the loss, the Hawks fall to 4-5 (1-2 Big 5) while the Wildcats even out at 4-4 (1-1 Big 5).

Melia shot 47.1 percent (8-of-17) from the field, which included a perfect 4-of-4 showing from the free throw line, and hit a pair of three-pointers to go with six offensive and nine defensive boards and a team-high two blocks.

How It Happened
• Saint Joseph's jumped out to a 20-11 lead after the first quarter, paced by Melia's nine points and highlighted by a Katie Jekot three-pointer initiated by a Lula Roig steal on the other end (4:13).
• Villanova scored just 11 points again in the second quarter but held Saint Joseph's to six on 21.4 percent shooting (3-of-14) from the field; however, the Hawks held onto a four-point advantage, 26-22, at the halftime break.
• Saint Joseph's shot just 5-of-30 from the field in the second half and Villanova caught fire, shooting 15-of-29 from the field to overcome the Crimson and Gray.
• The Hawks inched to within four when a Mary Sheehan jumper cut SJU's deficit to 46-42 with 6:06 to play. However, Villanova's Madison Siegrist, who finished the afternoon with a game-high 23 points, scored five straight points to extend the Wildcats' lead by nine, 51-42, entering the final 4:49.
• Roig hit a pair of free throws (2:56), but Villanova woud tear off on a 9-0 run to close the game and to hold the Hawks without a field goal for the final 6:06.