( CNN ) Lauren Hill , who took her inspirational fight against brain cancer onto the basketball court and into the hearts of many , has died at age 19 . The Indiana woman 's story became known around the world last year when she was able to realize her dream of playing college basketball . Mount St. Joseph University in Cincinnati successfully petitioned the NCAA to move up the opening game of its schedule to accommodate her desire to play . Hill died early Friday . At a ceremony honoring her life on the school 's campus Friday afternoon , head coach Dan Benjamin said the toughest thing a coach has to deal with is a loss . The community had lost more than a player , he said . It lost a friend and a daughter . And it lost `` an unselfish angel . '' `` It 's not often you get to celebrate a loss , '' he told the crowd as he struggled to hold in his tears . `` But today we celebrate a victory on how to live a life , through Lauren Hill . ( No . ) 22 you will be missed and remembered by so many . '' An assistant coach read a quote from Hill : . `` I encourage everyone to cherish every moment with no worry about the past or anxiety about the future . Because the next moment is never promised . Never leave anything unsaid . I have learned to see the blessings in every moment and through every struggle , no matter how tough it might be . Nothing holds me back from living my life and chasing my dreams . I always finish what I start and see it through to the end . Never give up on your dreams . Find something to fight for ; I fight for others . '' Hill would go on to help raise $ 1.4 million for pediatric cancer research with the nonprofit group The Cure Starts Now . The organization called her a `` worldwide inspiration . '' `` Lauren captured the hearts of people worldwide with her tenacity and determination to play in her first collegiate basketball game with her Mount St. Joseph University team , '' the group said on Facebook . People we 've lost in 2015 . Mount St. Joseph University President Tony Artez said Hill 's `` love and laughter will remain in our hearts . '' `` We are forever grateful to have had Lauren grace our campus with her smile and determined spirit , '' Artez said in a statement . `` She has left a powerful legacy . She taught us that every day is a blessing , every moment a gift . '' Her principal at Lawrenceburg High School , Bill Snyder , announced her death to students Friday morning . `` Lauren 's message was constantly positive , '' he told CNN . `` We all need to work together to beat obstacles . Not just cancer . In any situation we can be positive . '' As news of her death spread , social media lit up with messages honoring her life . NBA great LeBron James called her the `` true definition of strength , courage , power , leadership . '' `` The greatest accomplishment we can achieve as humans is to inspire many , '' Twitter user Just_AP wrote . `` Lauren Hill did that . '' NCAA President Mark Emmert said Hill 's `` enthusiasm and strength were an inspiration not only to those who knew her best , but also to the millions of people she touched around the world by sharing her story . '' `` Lauren achieved a lasting and meaningful legacy , and her beautiful spirit will continue to live on , '' he said in a statement . Hill was diagnosed with diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma in 2013 when she was a senior in high school . The rare brain tumor was inoperable , but Hill persisted in playing on her high school team despite chemotherapy treatments . `` I never gave up for a second , even when I got a terminal diagnosis , never thought about sitting back and not living life anymore , '' she told CNN affiliate WKRC-TV at the time . She had already committed to play for Mount St. Joseph when she was diagnosed . In October , the school received permission from the NCAA to move up its first scheduled game so Hill could play . In front of a sellout crowd , many wearing T-shirts bearing her name and slogan , `` Never Give Up , '' watched the ballplayer score the first two points and the final layup of the game . `` Today has been the best day I 've ever had , '' Hill told the crowd after the game . `` I do n't know what to say but thank you . '' CNN 's Jill Martin , Emanuella Grinberg and Faith Karimi contributed to this report .
Lauren Hill 's coach says she was ``` Never Give Up After playing for her college , Lauren Hill helped raise money for cancer research . NCAA president says she `` achieved a lasting and meaningful legacy ''