ORONO – Neither snowstorms, nor rough seas riding the ferry, nor the 61/2-hour journey from Orono to the Maritime Provinces could keep the University of Maine women’s basketball coaching staff from landing two recruits from Nova Scotia, Canada.

Guard Katherine Quackenbush of Halifax and center Andrea Gay of Dartmouth both have signed National Letters of Intent to attend UMaine and play basketball for the Black Bears beginning in the fall.

The late signing period began Wednesday and ends May 15.

The two Canadians join 5-foot-9 guard Kara Hickman of Huntingtown, Md., 6-3 forward Abby Schrader of Point Pleasant, N.J., and 6-2 forward Katie Whittier of New Gloucester on this year’s five-person recruiting class.

“We think these two are really going to be extremely competitive and continue to take us to that next level,” said UMaine women’s coach Sharon Versyp, who had braved some severe weather on her recruiting visits to Nova Scotia.

Quackenbush, a 5-11 guard, is considered the top player in Nova Scotia. She averaged 15.3 points and 5.6 rebounds last season while leading Queen Elizabeth High School to Metro League, regional and provincial championships. The two-time league MVP helped her team compile a 131-5 record over the last three seasons.

“She was recruited by a ton of schools in the U.S.,” including Oregon and some Big East schools, Versyp said. “She’s the most fundamentally sound player that we have coming in as a freshman.”

Quackenbush originally had indicated she wanted to attend college in Canada, but subsequently changed her mind.

“She’s a great shooter and has 3-point range,” Versyp said. “She shoots the ball very well, she’s a great rebounder for a perimeter player, and she loves defense the best.”

Gay, who lives about a half-hour from her future teammate, is a 6-3 post player. She amassed more than 1,300 points and 700 rebounds in her career at Auburn Drive High, averaging 22 points, 11 rebounds and seven blocked shots while shooting 59 percent from the field during her senior season.

“Andrea possesses good size, agility and physicalness in her post game,” Versyp said. “She can post you up and shoot left- or righthanded, or step out to 15 feet and drive to the basket.”

Gay also runs the floor well and is an accomplished shot-blocker at the defensive end. She had been recruited by the likes of Indiana, Penn State, Vermont and Arizona.

Gay actually sent out information about herself to UMaine and other schools, piquing the interest of the coaching staff. With closer proximity and good timing, UMaine was able to recruit her.

Versyp said the most recent signings don’t indicate any kind of emphasis on recruiting in Canada.

“Are we pinpointing Canada? Not at all,” Versyp said. “If I can get a kid from California, or a kid from Australia, we’ll get them. No matter where they’re located, we’re going to take a great look at them.”

The Bears have featured several Canadian players in recent years, including Kizzy Lopez, but graduating senior Anna James was the last of the most recent group.

Bears renew rivalry with Huskies

The UMaine baseball team opens America East play this weekend against Northeastern, the team that eliminated the Bears from the conference tournament last season.

There promises to be plenty of intensity during the doubleheaders Saturday and Sunday, especially since members of the two squads engaged in a benches-clearing incident during their regular-season series at Orono last spring.

“This is our big rivalry,” said Mike Ross, UMaine’s only senior. “Northeastern’s one of the better teams in our conference and last year they knocked us out of the tournament. We’d like to get back at them for that.”

The players sense there will be some heightened emotions when the Bears and Huskies square off at Friedman Diamond in Brookline.

“This is going to be a fun one, I think,” said junior Brett Ouellette.

UMaine won three of the five meetings last season, four of which were played in Orono.