Mount St. Joseph's freshman basketball player Lauren Hill, who touched millions and raised millions during her battle with pediatric brain cancer, died early Friday morning, it was announced. She was 19.

Brooke Desserich, co-founder of Hill's nonprofit foundation The Cure Starts Now, told The Associated Press that Hill died at a hospital on Friday.

Hill drew national attention when she played in a Division III basketball game with Mount St. Joseph on Nov. 2 despite suffering from an inoperable brain tumor diagnosed a year ago. She made layups for the first and last baskets of the game before 10,000 fans at Xavier's Cintas Center. 

For inspiration, watch this video:

http://espn.go.com/womens-college-basketball/story/_/id/11809823/lauren-hill-mount-st-josephs-brain-tumor-fulfills-hoops-dream

 

Hill's fight to not let her diagnosis dictate her final days rallied her Mount St. Joseph team behind her and convinced the NCAA and others to move up her team's season opener to allow her a chance to play.

She was diagnosed with a rare form of brain cancer -- Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG) -- after her 18th birthday, while she was still a senior in high school.

Hill had raised over $2 million for her cause and was honored by the United States Basketball Writers Association last Sunday at the Final Four with the Pat Summitt Most Courageous Award.

"We are saddened to hear that our friend Lauren Hill has passed away this morning," The Cure Starts Now announced Friday on its Facebook page. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to her family during this difficult time."

"Through Lauren's fundraising and advocacy efforts she not only became a spotlight on the lack of funding for cancer research, but she most certainly has become a beacon guiding researchers for years to come."

Rest in peace Lauren. Amazing courage and resiliency...she taught us all the value of life and how we should let nothing stop us from reaching our goals. A fighter on Earth, now she's an angel in Heaven.

allblack - thanks for posting. She has been an incredible inspiration here in the Cincinnati area, and her heroic mission has been spreading nationally. I can envision this awful cancer being called the 'Lauren Hill Disease', much like we know what "Lou Gehrig's" disease is. God Bless Lauren and her family.

FYI bob she has affected a lot more then just the Cincy area, TREMENDOUS story, not to mention all involved that made this story, teammates, opposing team, fans etc! Too bad to lose such great people so early, RIP Lauren Hill

C'mon WIS...change the Knight world to the Hill World.

I just listened to an interview she did with Willy Cunningham...tear jerker!

Ohio pride. Inspiring young woman, indeed.

The NCAA needs to change the name of the Award for the most Outstanding Female Basketball Player to "The Lauren Hill Memorial Award".  That young lady showed so much will power, strength, and courage with the way she lived.  I will never forget the words she spoke in that interview as long as I live, and her life impacted so many young people (and old) athlete and non athlete alike.  R.I.P. Lauren Hill

Lebron's tweet was so touching, comforting to think Lauren was often in his prayers in memory of his grandmother. Such a celebrity but still so in touch with Ohio.