Lauren Hill Made Her Emotional College Basketball Debut, and It Made Everyone Cry

Lauren Hill, who has an inoperable form of brain cancer called Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma, made her emotional college basketball debut yesterday. Hill was diagnosed last year as a senior in high school, after she had committed to attending Division III Mount St. Joseph University in Cincinnati. Her goal, after the diagnosis, was to fulfill her dream that appeared to be ripped from her and play in a college basketball game.

The game was moved up to November 2nd when Mount St. Joseph coach Dan Benjamin and Hiram College coach Emily Hays agreed to move it from the original November 15th date to give Hill a better chance to play. The NCAA granted an exemption to start the game early as well. Because of the outpouring of support, the game was moved to Xavier University and the 10,000 seats were sold out over a week ago.

All those in attendance saw Hill take the court, and score the first points of the college basketball season on a play designed to get her a shot.