A UNC Wilmington student is celebrating today, after she won $100,000 on a North Carolina Education Lottery scratch-off ticket on her birthday.
Laniah Ashley – a now-19-year-old from Clinton – won the jackpot on a $20 100x The Cash scratch-off ticket. And amusingly enough, it was the first time she had ever bought a lottery ticket.
“I kept looking at the numbers and reading the rules over and over again,” Ashely said. “I was too stunned to speak.”
Ashley is a freshman at UNCW and was home for Spring Break. Her 19th birthday was Wednesday, and she went to dinner with her family to celebrate. She got the ticket at the Han-Dee Hugo’s On Southeast Blvd. in Clinton right after dinner.
“It was my first time ever buying a ticket,” Ashley said. “I thought the colors on the ticket looked pretty so I chose that one. At first I kept it to myself because I didn’t want to sound crazy. I was too excited to believe it was true.”
Ashley picked up her prize at lottery headquarters on Thursday, and after federal and state withholdings, she will take home $71,016. The UNC Wilmington biology major has plans to attend medical school, and the lottery money should help her with that. She also plans to help her grandparents out with some of the money too.
Ticket sales from scratch-off games make it possible for the lottery to raise more than $900 million per year for education. For details on how $4.7 million raised by the lottery made a difference in Sampson County in 2021, visit www.nclottery.com and click on the “Impact” section.
Which North Carolina City is Tops in the Country for Best Basketball Fans?
1. Durham, NC
There’s little doubt that Duke has the best college basketball fans in the country.
Was there much doubt that the home of the Duke Blue Devils would be the top spot in the country? No, not really. Unless you’re a UNC fan, in which case you might not like how far down you’re gonna have to go here to find Chapel Hill.
2. Storrs, Connecticut
UConn has been wildly successful in women’s and men’s basketball.
The UConn women’s team have been a power for so long, it’s hard to ever imagine a time where they weren’t the class of the sport.
3. Lexington, Kentucky
Rupp Arena is legendary for college basketball.
The University of Kentucky Wildcats are about the only thing Lexington is known for.
4. Lawrence, Kansas
LAWRENCE, KANSAS – MARCH 05: Jalen Wilson #10 of the Kansas Jayhawks reacts during the overtime period of the game against the Texas Longhorns at Allen Fieldhouse on March 05, 2022 in Lawrence, Kansas. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
(So if you saw this list earlier…we may have forgotten to put the Jayhawks on here. Oops.)
5. Los Angeles, California
The bright lights of Hollywood make L.A. a great basketball town.
With both UCLA and USC in the mix, it’s hard to argue that L.A. wouldn’t be this high on the rankings. Even with some less than stellar years from them in recent times.
6. East Lansing, Michigan
The Breslin Center makes Sparty a powerful force.
Michigan State fans are loud and proud of ol’ Sparty.
7. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
St. Joseph’s and Temple are great Philadelphia rivals.
This one kind of sneaks up on you. But when you look at the combined college basketball power of Temple, Drexel, La Salle, Saint Joseph’s and Penn, there’s a lot to be said here.
8. Chapel Hill, NC
Rameses, mascot of the North Carolina Tar Heels, is passed around the student section at the Dean E. Smith Center in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
Maybe this is a product of a couple down years for the Tar Heels. But that win over Duke last weekend certainly makes up for the loss in these rankings.
10. Kingston, Rhode Island
Rhode Island is a great state with some legendary basketball.
We’re stumped on this one too. Rhode Island isn’t exactly a power.
49. Boiling Springs, NC
Never underestimate the Runnin Bulldogs.
The home of Gardner-Webb, a solid hoops community all around.
89. Davidson, NC
Steph Curry certainly had a big hand in establishing Davidson.
Wonder what made those little guys from Davidson so successful…hmmm…
180. Raleigh, NC
Mr. Wuf has seen better days on the court in Raleigh.
Where you at NC State fans? Hopefully, you’re doing better than the Pack is on the court.