RENO, Nev. - Joey Biondo of Carpentersville, Ill., walked into the Reno-Sparks Convention Center as the defending champion in Diamond All-Events at the United States Bowling Congress Women's Championships, and she had no intention of giving up her crown.

The 41-year-old right-hander continued her domination of the championship lanes and averaged more than 228 on her way to the top of the leaderboard in Scratch and Diamond All-Events on Wednesday. She had 729 in team, 667 in doubles and 663 in singles for a 2,059 scratch score, and an additional 11 pins of handicap per game helped her to a 2,158 handicap total.

USBC Hall of Famer Carolyn Dorin-Ballard of Keller, Texas, previously held the lead in Scratch All-Events lead with 2,050, while Amy Kehrberg of Alexandria, Minn., topped the Diamond All-Events standings with 2,132.

Biondo's performance also helped Eagle's Edge Pro Shop of Prospect Heights, Ill., into the top spot in Scratch Team with a 3,357 effort Tuesday, the second-highest team series in USBC Women's Championships history. The same group claimed the Diamond Team title at the 2011 event in Syracuse, N.Y.

With the possibility of reaching the winner's circle for the third consecutive year, Biondo feels she's hitting her stride on the lanes and credits the chemistry she's developed with her teammates over the years to helping her succeed on bowling's biggest stage.

"It's just been unbelievable for me," said Biondo, a former Team USA member who made her 14th Women's Championships appearance. "I feel like I'm right in the middle of my prime now. I've been doing some of my best bowling these past few years, and the girls I bowl with are really great. We always have a good time, and everything we do above and beyond that is a bonus."

Biondo prepared for her title defense by competing in local tournaments and getting better acquainted with her equipment. Her husband, Vince Biondo, also a former Team USA member and a titlist at the USBC Open Championships, has helped her along the way.

"We've been bowling a lot to prepare and get ready," said Biondo, who won the 1992 USBC Team USA Trials. "We've bowled a lot of tournaments locally, and I've got some really good equipment in my hands. I'm really getting to know my equipment. I didn't have as good of a grip on that aspect in the past as I do now, and my husband has really helped me with that."

Two of Biondo's Eagle's Edge Pro Shop teammates also made their way up the leaderboard as Keri Caduto of Union, Ill., and Tina Becke of Carol Stream, Ill., grabbed the Scratch Doubles lead with a 1,409 total at the RSCC on Wednesday.

Caduto paced the duo with a 713 series, while Becke added 696. They received nine pins of handicap per game and moved into second place in Diamond Doubles with 1,436. Heather Whitney of Lewisville, Texas, and Anita Manns-Arnett of Richmond, Texas, previously held the top spot in Scratch Doubles with 1,319, while Cari Vejvoda of Antioch, Ill., and Amanda Hoist of Lake Villa, Ill., lead Diamond Doubles with 1,443.

Caduto and Becke recently claimed a doubles title at home and felt their familiarity with each other's games was a key to their success on the championship lanes in Reno.

"We just won a big doubles event in Springfield, and today, we just dug deep and found a way to make it happen," said Caduto, who owns two Women's Championships titles and made her 15th tournament appearance. "We made some key adjustments after the first game. Tina was really lined up, and I was pretty lost, but I was watching where she was going, changed balls and then had a beautiful reaction. I think we've had so many years together as a group that we know how to feed off each other and know how to read each other's reactions pretty well. It all came together today."

Having won titles at the local, state and national level, Caduto and Becke appreciate every chance to make a run at a championship and enjoy living in the moment.

"As a bowler, you always dream of winning tournaments, and that's what you really work for," said Becke, who made her 17th appearance. "When you actually get there with your teammates, it's kind of a shock and awe type of feeling."

The Diamond Division consists of bowlers with averages of 180 and above, with handicap based on 100 percent of 220. Diamond Doubles is for pairs with combined averages of 360 and above, and handicap is 100 percent of 440.

The top overall scores at the Women's Championships are recognized as Scratch champions.

Presenting sponsors for the 2013 USBC Women's Championships include Circus Circus Reno, Eldorado Hotel Casino Reno and Silver Legacy Resort Casino Reno.