July 24 (UPI) -- A Maryland woman said it was several weeks before she knew her Powerball ticket was a winner and several more before she knew it was a $50,000 prize.
The 68-year-old Monrovia woman told Maryland Lottery officials she bought the $2 quick-pick Powerball ticket Feb. 17 from Brown's Liquors & Deli and promptly forgot about it.
"It was in my purse for a long time," the winner said.
She said it was weeks after the drawing when she checked the ticket at a retailer scanner and was told she would have to claim her prize at lottery headquarters.
The woman said it was weeks more before she checked her numbers while visiting a friend and discovered her ticket was a $50,000 winner.
"When we were leaving, I asked her why she wasn't screaming," the winner's husband said, prompting her to answer: "Because I'm in shock."
The couple finally claimed their winnings Friday at Maryland Lottery headquarters.
"Better late than never!" the woman said.
