New Mexico team cruises to Emerald lead at Women's Championships

LAS VEGAS - Developing team chemistry usually is not something that takes place over night, but the members of Toooo Hot!!! of Rio Rancho, New Mexico, put everything together on their first attempt as they made their way to the top of the Emerald Team standings at the 2016 United States Bowling Congress Women's Championships.

Competing together for the first time Friday at the South Point Bowling Plaza, Toooo Hot!!! fired games of 676, 757 and 682 for a 2,115 total. Bling Team of Lake Havasu City, Arizona, had held the lead with 1,991.

Crystal Espinosa led the way with a 594 series, and she was joined on the championship lanes by Cynthia Martinez (526), Betty Veitch (510) and Margaret Romero (485).

"We just came out here to have fun," Martinez said. "It just turned out that we got paired together. I had bowled with Betty years and years ago back home but had never bowled with Crystal and Margaret. We had a lot of fun, and the lanes just really worked with us today."

The team came together as part of a larger group from Rio Rancho and Albuquerque, New Mexico, but also had the opportunity to meet another group of competitors while they made their way up the leaderboard.

"We bowled with a group of amazing ladies from Kentucky," Martinez said. "They brought everyone a gift, and it's something they do every year. They were giving us a lot of support, too."

After this year's performance, Toooo Hot!!! certainly would like the chance to bowl together again in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, for the 2017 USBC Women's Championships. It would be an even more memorable experience if the teammates had a title to defend.

"I think we're coming back," Martinez said. "We're all very proud of our score, even if it doesn't hold up. It was fun for all of us. But I was watching the scores online before coming out here, so I'll be watching."

Emerald Team features four-player teams with combined entering averages of 575-649.

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