One way or the other, Jill Stillwell of Dallas, N.C, and her husband, Woodrow, planned to buy a car for their grand-niece this year when she turns 16. But thanks to some good luck this week, now the other way will be with part of a $242,935 Carolina Cash 5 jackpot.

Stillwell had five $1 tickets for Wednesday’s drawing and one beat odds of 575,757 to win the jackpot. After taxes were withheld, she took home $168,232.

Stillwell, a homemaker who enjoys taking trips on her Harley-Davidson with her husband, said after they buy their niece a car, they will put the rest of the prize money into savings.

“It feels good,” Stillwell said as she collected her prize Friday morning. “When you put this in the bank and have a cushion, that’s a good feeling.”

Stillwell said she enjoys the Cash 5 game because it has better odds of winning and is only played in North Carolina. The lucky ticket was purchased at Wills III on Dallas Shoals Highway in Dallas. It was the second time in a week that a ticket purchased in Gaston County captured a Cash 5 jackpot.

The jackpot for the Friday, April 24 Cash 5 drawing is $60,000.

Ticket sales made it possible for the lottery to raise more than half a billion for the state last year. North Carolina Education Lottery net proceeds will be used this year to help pay salaries of teachers and teacher assistants, for pre-kindergarten programs for at-risk four-year-olds, school construction and repair, and need-based college scholarships and financial aid.

For details on how $76 million in lottery funds have made a difference in Gaston County, click on the “Where the Money Goes” tab on the lottery’s website.