The 31-year-old right-hander started singles with a pair of 246 games before rolling 12 consecutive strikes to finish with a 792 scratch series. She received an additional 22 pins of handicap per game, which gave her a final score of 858. Team USA member Tennelle Milligan of Arlington, Texas, previously held the scratch lead with 779, while Shauna Shannon of Albuquerque, N.M., led Diamond Singles with 797.

Howard became the third competitor to shoot 300 at this year's Women's Championships. On April 22, Karen Boyd of Plantation, Fla., and Alisha Hill of Riverside, Calif., rolled perfect games during the same team squad.

Howard's 300 game at the El Paso Convention and Performing Arts Center was the first of her bowling career, and her 792 series also is a career-best.

"I'm just so excited, I'm still shaking," said Howard, who made her second Women's Championships appearance. "I never thought it would happen at a tournament like this. I've had the front 10 before, but that's it. I just really wanted it, and I've been waiting a long time for this moment."

After watching her teammate, Dana Blake of Hawthorne, Calif., strike on her first nine shots Wednesday during their team event, Howard did her best to compose herself on each shot in the 10th frame.

She struck soundly on her first two deliveries, but experienced some added suspense on the final ball as the 7 pin was the last to fall.

"I was nervous as heck," said Howard, who bowls league at AMF Midtown Lanes in Los Angeles. "I just wanted to keep the ball on line and not totally screw it up. I had been leaving a lot of 7 pins throughout the tournament, so the last shot was a little scary."

Howard returned to the lanes in January after taking nearly a year off as she welcomed her daughter, Kaylyn, into the world. After working herself back into the sport, she also prepared some new equipment for the event.

With her new equipment working well and a chance at the top spot possible, adding her name to the leaderboard was the least of Howard's concerns going into the final game. Her main goal was to bowl a 700 series.

"I just wanted to get to 700," Howard said. "I've started off strong like that before, but tend to finish with a weak game, so I didn't want to screw it up. I didn't even think about taking the lead at all. But I'll be on BOWL.com checking every day."

Howard won't have to spend too much time at the computer, however. The 2010 Women's Championships is scheduled to conclude its 100-day run on July 4.

"I'm happy, very, very happy," Howard said. "I came out here to have fun with my family and friends. I never expected any of this. I can now say I have one major bowling accomplishment and that it's a pretty big one. We'll wait and see what happens over the next few days."

Howard added a 683 series in team and 672 in doubles to finish with an all-events total of 2,213, which puts her in fourth place for Diamond All-Events. Jodi Woessner of Oregon, Ohio, leads with 2,330. All scores include handicap.

The Diamond Division includes bowlers with averages of 180 and above, with handicap based on 100 percent of 220.

Presenting sponsors for the 2010 USBC Women's Championships are Nationwide Insurance; Kegel, official lane maintenance provider; US Steltronic, official scoring system; Brunswick; Storm Bowling Products Inc.; and the El Paso Convention and Visitors Bureau.