When members of Cathy's Hair Shapers made the long journey to Detroit from North Carolina for the 2008 United States Bowling Congress Women's Championships, they knew it would take a team effort and good scores to rise to the top.

Their bowling shirts used to bear testament to the Alamo, but now the four San Antonio-based teams instead pay tribute to their own homegrown hero, Paula Diane Wright. As a 28-year bowler in the St. Cecilia's Ladies league at what is now AMF Ponderosa Lanes, Wright spurred others to join bowling, organized their annual Women's Championships treks since 1999, and handily kept everyone in line, say her friends. Then, she lost her second battle with breast cancer in 2006 at the age of 58.

The Division 3 and Division 4 leader boards at the 2008 United States Bowling Congress Women's Championships took on a new look Sunday with new leaders emerging in singles, all-events and team.

Liz Johnson (pictured) took the lead in Classic All-Events while Corrine Ham bolted into the lead in Classic Singles on Friday at the 2008 USBC Women's Championships.

Wisconsin bowlers Gina Daroszewski and Jill Albrecht were members of the Women's Championships winning Classic Division team in 2004 and 2002. After moving into first place in Classic Doubles with 1,445, they hope to add another title to their credit.

When Leslie Bohn and her teammates arrived in Detroit for the 2008 USBC Women's Championships, they were focused from the very beginning. That focus helped Bohn Zone Chicks of Kettering, Ohio, take the lead in Classic Team on Wednesday.

Team Malaysia breezed into the 2008 United States Bowling Congress Women's Championships wearing bright orange jackets and shirts, but it was their scores that announced their presence, loud and clear. Sharon Koh shone the brightest by taking the early lead in Classic Team, Doubles, Singles and All-Events.

After the first full week of competition at the 2008 United States Bowling Congress Women's Championships there were many notable performances. 

She came dressed in an embroidered and scalloped peach shirt, yet beneath the smiling grandmotherly stance, there's a reason why Emma Hendrickson's teammates affectionately call her The Warhorse.  Hendrickson's staying power ties for the record as oldest participant in the 92-year history of the United States Bowling Congress Women's Championships.

Even without a professional women's bowling tour, defending USBC Queens champion Kelly Kulick says the fields are getting stronger each year in the few major women's events that remain.

Was it a bird, or a plane, or something even stranger that Jeanne Hernandez saw fly at Super Bowl Lanes as she aimed to pick up a spare at the USBC Women's Championships?

Competing in the United States Bowling Congress Women's Championships for the first time, Michael B's Foxy Ladies of Romulus, Mich., turned in a performance they won't soon forget.

When Judith Mosher of Chesapeake, Va. started bowling in 1995, she never thought she would be bowling from a wheelchair at the 2008 United States Bowling Congress Women's Championships.

Mary Thacker of Douglas, Ga., has an accomplishment to her credit not many of the participants in the 2008 United States Bowling Congress Women's Championships can match.

With the 2008 USBC Women's Championship underway, bowlers and fans alike had nothing but great things to say about Detroit and the tournament.  We decided to go out on opening weekend and see what all of the buzz is about.

They are called the 9 of Hearts but 10 of them, in two high-fiving teams, traveled from Tennessee and Iowa to sightsee, laugh, eat, bond and compete in the 2008 United States Bowling Congress Women's Championships.

Motown tempted female bowlers from across the United States with the dulcet tones of a Temptations style singer at the opening ceremonies for the 2008 USBC Women's Championships at Super Bowl Lanes in suburban Detroit.

The grand pooh-bah of women's bowling, a people's sport in a region that cherishes it, is coming to Canton Township, Mich., on Thursday for an 88-day marathon of strikes, spares and sweat.

Tens of thousands to descend on Motor City beginning April 10.

Some fast facts from the 2008 USBC Women's Championships to be conducted at Super Bowl in Canton, Mich. beginning April 10.