No. 12 DePaul, the top-seed, dominated eighth-seeded Wayne Valley 67-35 in the Passaic County Tournament quarterfinal round on Saturday, with Angelyn Almonte leading all scorers with 23 points, including five 3-pointers in Wayne.
The game was effectively decided in the middle quarters, where DePaul (16-3) outscored Wayne Valley (9-13) by a commanding 46-13 margin. Maya Morrison added 14 points for DePaul, while Giovanna Burress and Breya Le Tennier each contributed 13 points.
Sophia Benacquista was the bright spot for Wayne Valley, recording a double-double with 18 points and eight rebounds, along with three assists and two blocks. Jada Laracuente added eight points, four rebounds, and a team-high two steals.
DePaul built its lead methodically, taking a 20-14 advantage after the first quarter before exploding for 23 points in both the second and third quarters. Wayne Valley struggled offensively throughout, scoring just 21 points over the final three quarters.
Despite the lopsided score, Wayne Valley showed some fight on the boards, collecting 26 rebounds as a team, though DePaul’s offensive firepower proved too much to overcome.
DePaul will move onto the semifinal round where it will face fourth-seeded Wayne Hills.
