Keokuk woman wins $20K on $2 scratch off

CLIVE, Iowa - A Lee County woman whose boyfriend alerted her she'd won a $20,000 prize said she didn't believe him right away.

Teri Maxwell, 50, of Keokuk, won the fifth of eight top prizes in the Iowa Lottery's "Iowa Black Premium" scratch game. She purchased her winning ticket at Hy-Vee, 3111 Main St. in Keokuk.

Maxwell scratched it later that day at home, but didn't realize it was a winning ticket until her boyfriend pointed it out. She said she didn't believe him because he often jokes with her about winning tickets.

"He goes, 'No, serious, trust me, it's a winner!'" Maxwell told officials on Tuesday as she claimed her prize at lottery headquarters in Clive. "I thought, like always, he was pulling my leg. And he was right!"

They returned to the store, where they double-checked the ticket on the lottery terminal and verified Maxwell's big win.

"Always double-check your tickets - always!" Maxwell said. "I didn't think I would ever win that much money."

Maxwell plans to use her winnings to pay off a loan and purchase a new grill.

Iowa Black Premium is a $2 scratch game that features eight top prizes of $20,000 and overall odds of 1 in 3.73. For more information about this game, and the number of prizes still available, visit ialottery.com.