Advice from mom leads North Carolina woman to $254,926 lottery jackpot

July 21 (UPI) -- A North Carolina woman won a lottery jackpot worth more than $250,000 thanks to taking some advice from her mother.

Gina Dillard, 55, of Mocksville, told North Carolina Education Lottery officials she had never tried a Fast Play game before when her mother recommended she buy one.

"This was the first week I've ever tried playing Fast Play," Dillard said.

Dillard selected a Double Win ticket during her Tuesday visit to AJ Food Mart in Mocksville.

The player's $5 ticket earned her half of the $509,852 jackpot -- a prize of $254,926.

"I never could've dreamed this," Dillard said. "I couldn't even sleep last night."

Dillard said her winnings will go toward paying off her house and car. She said the remainder will go into savings.