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A South Carolina woman who purchased a lottery ticket in North Carolina as part of a family tradition "freaked out" after winning a huge prize just in time for Christmas.
Ashely Ellison, of Gaffney, S.C., and her uncle have a routine of playing the lottery when they go out to eat, and it paid off big time earlier this week when they stopped by the Dhiya Food Mart on South Post Road in Shelby on Sunday (December 15), according to a release from the NC Education Lottery.
"It was his idea to stop," she said. "We go out to eat sometimes and then buy tickets."
Ellison purchased a $20 Merry Multiplier scratch-off ticket that ended up earning her a $250,000 prize; however, she originally thought the prize was much lower.
"I thought I just won $250. I freaked out," she said, laughing. She added, "The whole ride home I was like, 'Really? I won $250,000? Seriously?'"
Ellison claimed her prize at lottery headquarters on Tuesday (December 17), taking home an impressive $178,756 after all state and federal tax withholdings. Though she didn't share exactly what she plans to do with her new winnings, the prize definitely came at the right time as the holidays are right around the corner.
"This is absolutely going to make for a great Christmas," she said.