Terminally ill freshman scores in team's home opener

CINCINNATI, OH -- No one knew if Lauren Hill, a freshman basketball player for Mount St. Joseph College in Ohio, would still be here for Saturday's game - the team's first official home game at Harrington Center.

But she was, and no shot was bigger than the layup she hit just seconds into the team's game against Franklin College, reports WCPO in Cincinnati.

Hill is in the final stages of her battle with terminal brain cancer. She chose to live out her remaining days fighting for a cure, and she sure wasn't going to miss Saturday's game.

After the tip, Lauren got the pass and calmly scored the game's first two points to a standing ovation.

"I was surprised because I'm like pumped with energy right now and I don't know where it came from but I was just so excited and ready to score," she said. "I was ready for that basket."

At the half, there was another presentation for TheCureStartsNow.com, the cause Lauren is dedicating her final days to.

"I'm kind of overwhelmed with the support and it just really it touches my heart and I'm so happy that like I'm able to touch everybody else's hearts and that's what it just makes everything so much more special," she said. "It makes that basket more special."

Lauren's family says they are prepared to have hospice care at their home. People who would like to help honor Lauren can make a donation to the Lauren Hill Tribute Fund at TheCureStartsNow.com.