( CNN ) -- Basketball might be a team sport , but Mount St. Joseph University freshman Lauren Hill was clearly the star of the court Sunday in Ohio 's Cintas Center in Cincinnati . Her name was plastered on posters and signs waving in the stands . Much of the sold-out crowd of more than 10,000 fans wore T-shirts and sweatshirts bearing her name and the slogan `` Never Give Up . '' Some had her jersey number , 22 , painted on their faces . Mount St. Joseph already had a 64-55 lead over Hiram College when Hill came off the bench in response to chants of `` we want Lauren . '' When she hit the final layup in the last nine seconds of the game , thunderous cheers underscored the significance of the shot , which could be the last of Hill 's collegiate career and her life . The 19-year-old freshman is dying from a rare form of brain cancer called Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma . When doctors told her she did not have much time left , her school asked the NCAA if it could move up its season opener by two weeks so Hill could play her first collegiate basketball game . The answer was yes , prompting an outpouring of support from the greater Cincinnati community and beyond , culminating in Sunday 's game . Hill also scored the first two points of the game , drawing cheers from Lions and Terrier fans alike . `` Today has been the best day I 've ever had , '' a tearful Hill told the crowd after the game as she accepted the Wilma Rudolph Courage Award for overcome adversity and serving as positive role model . `` I do n't know what to say but thank you . '' Her diagnosis came during her final year of high school in 2013 . She 'd already signed up to play basketball at Mount St. Joseph . Undeterred , she played ball in high school despite rounds of chemotherapy for her inoperable tumor and went on to Mount St. Joseph University . `` I never gave up for a second even when I got a terminal diagnosis ; I never thought about sitting back and not living life anymore , '' she told CNN affiliate WKRC . Hill 's story touched people around the country after WKRC shared her story . Xavier University donated court space at Cintas Center when it became demand for tickets outnumbered available seats at Mount St. Joseph . Sports teams around the country took the # LayUp4Lauren challenge to raise money for pediatric brain cancer , from the Cincinnati Bengals to the Harlem Globetrotters . Legendary women 's basketball coach Pat Summit was on hand during half-time to present Hill with the U.S. Basketball Writers Association 's Most Courageous Award , a distinction normally reserved for a women 's coach or player during the Women 's Final Four . Buffalo Bills running back Fred Jackson , Chicago Sky 's Elena Delle Donne and WNBA All-Star Tamika Catchings also attended Sunday 's game . `` The thing about her is she 's just so positive and encouraging , '' Catchings told WKRC . `` No matter what she 's going through she 's still out here talking about [ how ] we need a cure . '' Even Ohio native and NBA star Lebron James is a fan . He congratulated her on Instagram . .
NCAA freshman Hill plays in season opener . Lauren Hill is dying from a rare form of brain cancer called Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma . Her school asked Mount St. Joseph University to move season opener so she could play . Her story inspires pro athletes to to raise money for pediatric brain cancer .