SYRACUSE, N.Y. - Suzy Minino and Trish Manna of Omaha, Neb., walked into the Oncenter Convention Center this week determined to improve on last year's fourth-place finish in Diamond Doubles at the USBC Women's Championships.

Minino fired games of 268, 279 and 259 for a career-high scratch series of 806 and catapulted the pair to the top of the leaderboard Monday. Manna contributed a 612 series for a 1,418 scratch effort, and an additional 38 pins of handicap per game helped them to a 1,532 total. Tracey Magnuson of Faribault, Minn., and Diane Marget of Champlin, Minn., previously led with 1,500.

"This is truly amazing," Minino said. "We definitely have good energy and feed off of each other. We are team bowlers. We are always in it together."

Minino, who won a 2010 state doubles title with Manna, started the second and third games with seven consecutive strikes en route to the milestone series. She nailed down the award score by converting the 6-10 spare in the 10th frame of the finale. The 31-year-old right-hander punctuated the milestone with a strike on the fill ball. It was the second 800 series at this year's Women's Championships and the seventh in tournament history.

"I've been struggling bowling-wise because I just had my second son seven months ago," Minino said. "After my first two games, I wasn't assuming 800 by any means, but I knew I had a decent shot at it. This is unbelievable. Nationals is grueling, and its one of those things you come to for the sport of it, not because you think you are going to shoot lights out."

Manna and Minino both bowl out of Mockingbird Lanes in Omaha and seem to always do well together in doubles events, especially at nationals. They have cashed at the last three Women's Championships, including last year's fourth-place finish with a 1,452 total.

"I knew Suzy was shooting a really good set," said Manna, who has one career 300. "We did well in doubles at nationals last year, so we are always thinking we have a chance to compete. All I was thinking about was that if I could just shoot my average, I knew we'd have a good chance to get into first."

Manna, a 35-year-old right-hander, also was responsible for keeping Minino calm during her quest for 800.

"I tried to keep her focused and talked to her about her sons (Tanner and Ty)," Manna said. "I wanted to keep her focused on the 800 because I knew she hadn't had one."

Minino added 545 in singles and 542 in team for a 1,893 scratch all-events total. An additional 21 pins of handicap per game helped her to 2,082.

Manna had 610 in team and 474 in singles for a 1,696 scratch all-events total. Her all-events total with handicap was 1,849.

The Diamond Division includes bowers with averages of 180 and above, with handicap based on 220. For doubles, the pair must have a combined average of 360 or above. Handicap is 100 percent of 440.

Also on Monday, Lucille Reinert of Thiensville, Wis., assumed the lead in Sapphire Singles.

She rolled a 513 scratch set and finished with a 633 handicap series to take over first place from Nancy Prizler of Autin, Minn., who previously held the lead with a 586. Reinert finished with a handicap all-events total of 1,489.

The Sapphire Division is for bowlers with averages of 149 and below. Handicap is based on 150.

Sponsors for the 2011 USBC Women's Championships sponsors include Turning Stone Resort and Casino, official brackets sponsor, Humana, official registration sponsor, Miller Lite and Molson Canadian, official beer sponsors. Supporting sponsors include Storm Bowling Products, Nationwide Insurance, The Oncenter, Syracuse Convention and Visitors Bureau, Caz Limo & Tours, Kegel, official lane maintenance provider, US Steltronic, official scoring system, and Brunswick, official lane provider.