It was a layup in an NCAA Division III game, but Lauren Hill's routine two-pointer will go down as one of the most memorable of the basketball season.
According to the Associated Press, Hill is a freshman forward for Mount St. Joseph University (MSJU) with an inoperable brain tumor that physically prohibits her from playing basketball. However, she managed two layups against Hiram College, drawing a standing ovation from a crowd of more than 10,000 fans.
Hill's tumor makes her highly sensitive to sounds and light, so she spent the vast majority of the game on the bench with earmuffs and sunglasses. She may also just have a few months to live, but even that cannot bring down her mood.
CLICK HERE to watch her story via ESPN W.
"This game was amazing," Hill told the AP. "It was awesome in every way. It's a dream come true. To play on a college court, to put my foot down on the floor and hear the roar of the crowd - I just love it so much. I love basketball.
"Everything that happened today was amazing. I'm truly happy, it's a really good day."
Hill's tumor also affects her coordination, forcing her to rely on her left-handed layup as a primary option. Still, she hit the first and the last points of the game, a layup from each hand.
Among the 10,000+ in attendance were Tennessee women's basketball coach emeritus Pat Summitt and some of the WNBA's best, including Elena Delle Donne, Delisha Milton-Jones, Tamika Catchings and Skylar Diggins.
With MSJU located in Cincinnati, Hill has also seen support from a man whose four-year-old daughter is suffering from pediatric cancer. Devon Still, a defensive end for the Cincinnati Bengals, often wears black tape on his face with the message "Leah Strong," in honor of his daughter.
For his game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Still's tape read "Lauren Strong."
