Two Waterloo women each claimed big prizes last week playing Iowa Lottery scratch games.

Megan Gardner claimed the first of eight top prizes of $50,000 available in the lottery’s new “7 Is A Blast” game, and Joyce Phillips claimed the 15th of 91 top prizes of $30,000 available in the lottery’s “Bonus Crossword” game.

Phillips bought her winning ticket at Casey’s, 3035 Logan Ave. in Waterloo, and claimed her prize Friday at the lottery’s regional office in Cedar Rapids.

“I had nobody to tell because it was so late at night. I had to drive home to wake up my boyfriend so someone could know and to make sure I wasn’t seeing things.” - Megan Gardner. 31, said she bought her winning ticket late Thursday night at New Star, 101 Commercial St. in Raymond and knew that she’d won soon after leaving the store.

Gardner, 31, who manages a fast food restaurant in the Cedar Valley, said she bought her winning ticket late Thursday night at New Star, 101 Commercial St. in Raymond and knew that she’d won soon after leaving the store. She plans to use a majority of her winnings to help pay for a new home she and her boyfriend will close on later this month.

The 7 Is A Blast scratch game is a $5 ticket and Bonus Crossword is a $3 ticket. More details about how to play these games, and number of prizes still up for grabs in them can be found on the Iowa Lottery’s website, www.ialottery.com.

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