LANSING, March 3, 2000 — Marie Anthony of Southfield knew she had won something on The Big Game ticket she purchased — she just wasn’t sure how much! Anthony matched the first five numbers in the February 22 Big Game drawing to win the $150,000 prize. That day’s winning numbers were: 33-35-36-40-43 and the Big Money Ball number was 11.

"My husband saw the winning numbers on WDIV-TV 4 the day after the drawing," Anthony said. "When he told me that we had matched five numbers I didn’t believe him! We then called a store in our neighborhood to check the numbers again, and they were the same as what my husband had seen on television. We were both totally stunned and surprised!"

Anthony said she had no idea that she had won $150,000; she thought the prize was much lower than that.

"I thought maybe we had won $10,000 or so," she said. "When the store clerk told us we won $150,000 I couldn’t believe it and just said, ‘Wow!’"

When not golfing, the winner said she enjoys playing Michigan Lottery games on occasion. She added that The Big Game is her favorite Michigan Lottery game, and she has only been playing it for the past couple of months! Anthony purchased the winning Big Game ticket at 3B Party Store, 18300 W. Warren Avenue, in Detroit.

Prior to turning the winning ticket in at Lottery headquarters in Lansing, Anthony said she kept in on her kitchen counter. The lucky lady said she plans to use her winnings to pay bills and make investments.

The Big Game is a multistate lottery game in Michigan, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Virginia. Wagers cost $1 each and tickets may be purchased at more than 6,400 Michigan Lottery retailers statewide.

Big Game drawings are conducted every Tuesday and Friday at 11 p.m. The next Big Game drawing is tonight (Friday), March 3, with an expected jackpot of $18 million.

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