Lauren Hill, College Freshman With Terminal Brain Cancer, Scores Her First Points, But Not Her Last

Seeing 10,000 fans pack the stands at a Division III basketball game is a rare sight, but what the crowd witnessed during Mt. St. Joseph’s 66-55 win over Hiram College at Xavier University was nothing short of memorable. Mt. St. Joseph’s freshman forward Lauren Hill, who was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor and told she would only have months to live back in September, scored the first two points of the night and ended the game with four total.

Following her inspiring performance, Hill deservingly received the U.S. Basketball Writers Association’s Pat Summitt Most Courageous Award, which is usually awarded during the Final Four, ESPN reported. An outpouring of support has not only come from classmates and the NCAA, but also from professional athletes, including NBA superstar Lebron James.

In addition to former Tennessee Lady Vols head coach Pat Summit, WNBA stars Elena Della Donne, Tamika Catchings, Skylar Diggins, and Candace Parker were also on hand for Hill’s first collegiate game. Touching reactions have even come from the NFL. Buffalo Bills running back Fred Jackson was one of the 10,000 fans in attendance for Sunday night’s game and Devon Still, Cincinnati Bengals defensive tackle whose daughter is currently battling pediatric cancer, represented Hill on his eye black this week.

To those of you who think this will be Hill’s last game, she has something to say about that: