Lansing, May 17, 2001 – Kimberly Banycky of Clarkston was so excited about becoming $150,000 richer after matching the first five numbers in the May 4 Big Game drawing she told everyone she knows! That day’s winning numbers were: 11, 24, 27, 35, 47 and the Big Money Ball number was 22.

Banycky, 41, purchased the winning Big Game "easy pick" ticket at Dandy Oil Inc., 5465 Sashabaw Road, in Clarkston. The lucky lady, who enjoys archery in her free time, learned she had won after picking up a winning number report from her local Lottery retailer. Banycky and a friend of hers checked the numbers on the winning ticket together.

" I’ve got it, I’ve got it," the winner said. "My friend didn’t believe me at first. I didn’t know how much it was worth, but when I found out, I told everyone!"

Banycky said she has played Michigan Lottery games for the past ten years, and added that The Big Game and instant games are her favorites.

The peer educator for the Pontiac school system, who also enjoys skeet and trap shooting, hunting and fishing in her spare time, said she plans to invest her winnings for the future.

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 Friday, May18, with an expected jackpot of $12 million.

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