RENO, Nev. - Corina Grasso of Fort Collins, Colo., and Megan Hill of Eastlake, Ohio, hit a remarkable stride at the 2012 United States Bowling Congress Women's Championships, and they moved into a tie for the Diamond Doubles lead on Monday.

Grasso, a 30-year-old right-hander, led the way with a 769 scratch series, while Hill, 24, added 606 for a 1,375 scratch total at the National Bowling Stadium. They received an additional 35 pins of handicap per game for a 1,480 total, tying them with Elysia Current of Ephrata, Pa., and Lindsay Baker of Brigham City, Utah. Current and Baker's score is scratch and also has them at the top of the Scratch Doubles standings.

Grasso and Hill came within one wobbly 7 pin of owning the lead, but Grasso is philosophical about the outcome as well as not rolling the 300 game she was shooting for. Ultimately, she is happy to share the limelight.

"This is exciting, to say the least," said Grasso, who made her fourth USBC Women's Championships appearance. "There are so many good bowlers here, and to actually bowl well at Nationals is such a wonderful feeling. I knew we were close when we hit the 1400s, so I told Megan, 'get every pin you can.'"

Grasso and Hill met for the first time at the 2011 Women's Championships in Syracuse, N.Y., when Grasso's team decided to not bowl. Hill and her teams embraced Grasso, and the mutual admiration now stretches across the country.

The pair enjoyed the uniqueness of the Stadium and matched up to the conditions quickly as they made their run at the lead.

"The dryness in Reno is far different from the lane and climate conditions we had in Syracuse and El Paso," Grasso said. "These lane conditions are perfect, and the Stadium is such a great place to test that out. We each brought four balls, but I only used two, and Megan used one. The lanes played tight, and you needed to hit where you meant to go, but once you were there, it was a sure shot."

Grasso finished her 2012 event with a 625 in singles and 623 in team for a 2,017 scratch all-events total. She received an additional 14 pins of handicap per game to finish with 2,143. Hill, who made her second Women's Championships appearance, rolled 611 in team and 544 in singles for 1,761. She received an additional 21 pins of handicap per game to finish at 1,950. Joyce Biondo of Carpentersville, Ill., leads Diamond All-Events with 2,269.

The Diamond Division is made up of bowlers with averages of 180 and higher, with handicap based on 220.

Presenting sponsors for the 2012 USBC Women's Championships are Circus Circus, Eldorado Hotel Casino and Silver Legacy Resort Casino in Reno, Nev. Other sponsors include Harrah's Reno Casino, official brackets sponsor, Kegel, official lane maintenance provider, Humana, official registration sponsor, Steltronic, official scoring system, and supporting sponsors Storm Bowling Products, Nationwide Insurance, Sands Regency Casino Hotel and Atlantis Casino Resort and Spa and MyBowlingVacation.com.