ORONO – University of Maine women’s basketball coach Sharon Versyp announced Wednesday that her program has received three National Letters of Intent (NLI) from prospective student-athletes.

Ameshia Bryant, Margaret Elderton and Vandy Pullen have all singed NLIs to attend Maine and join the Black Bears women’s basketball program in the fall of 2004.

The 5-foot-9 Bryant averaged 16.4 points and 10.2 rebounds last season at Barbara Coleman HS and has recorded 685 points and 520 rebounds in only two seasons of high school basketball. She was an invitee to the Adidas Top 50 South camp and was named to the Stars Under The Sun South Florida All-Star Team as a Top 50 player in the state of Florida.

Elderton earned Delaware County (Pa.) Player of the Year honors while leading Haverford to a 23-6 record and its second Central League title and state playoff appearance in the last three years. The 5-6 guard averaged 14 points, 4.5 rebounds, 4.7 assists and two steals per game last season, and became the her school’s first player, male or female, to surpass the 1,000-point mark in her junior season.

Pullen, 5-10, has scored nearly 900 points and pulled down over 400 rebounds at Washington-Lee HS, setting a new school scoring record in the process. A three-time first-team All-District and All-County selection, Pullen also earned District All-Defensive Player honors for the past three seasons.

Cheverus to host hockey preview

PORTLAND – The Cheverus Stags will host the inaugural Thanksgiving Purple and Gold Cup Hockey Tournament on Friday, Nov. 28 and Saturday, Nov. 29 at the Portland Ice Arena and the Travis Roy Arena at North Yarmouth Academy.

The tournament features eight area varsity teams. In a separate bracket will be four area JV squads.

Local hockey force St. Dom’s will join Portland, Falmouth, Cape Elizabeth, Scarborough, Biddeford and St. Thomas of Dover, N.H., in the varsity flight.