RALEIGH – Laurie Marcus of Monroe saw her Extreme Cashword ticket reveal a $150,000 top prize.

“It was a big shock for me,” she said. “I’m still numb, I’ve never won more than $100!”

Monroe purchased her winning $5 ticket from the Kangaroo Express on U.S. 74 West in Monroe.

She claimed her prize Monday at lottery headquarters in Raleigh and took home $106,126 after required federal and state tax withholdings.

Ticket sales from scratch-offs like Extreme Cashword make it possible for the lottery to raise more than $725 million per year for education. For details on how $15.8 million raised by the lottery, including funds for 499 college scholarships, benefited Union County last year, visit www.nclottery.com and click on the “Impact” section.