Lauren Hill, the Cincinnati-area college basketball player suffering from terminal brain cancer, will get to play her final collegiate game in front of a sold-out crowd on Nov. 2 at Xavier University's Cintas Center.
Hill, a 19-year-old freshman who plays for Division III Mount St. Joseph University, suffers from Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG), an inoperable brain tumor, and doctors are just hoping she'll
make it until December, according to Cincinnati.com.
The NCAA granted a special exemption for Mount St. Joseph to move its season-opener with Hiram College from Nov. 15 to Nov. 2 so Hill can play. Officials even had to look for a larger venue to accommodate all the people interested in attending, as Mount St. Joseph's Harrington Center only holds about 2,000.
Xavier University, an NCAA Division I school, offered its 10,250-seat Cintas Center for the game, according to Cincinnati.com. Ticketmaster confirmed this week that tickets sold out in about 30 minutes.
"We have received heartfelt emails and phone calls of support from people around the world who have heard of Lauren's story," Steve Radcliffe, Mount St. Joseph's athletic director,
said in a statement, according to the "Today" show. "We are humbled by the many universities and school groups that would like to come to the game, even those coming from several hours away."
Hill got a special visit on Tuesday from Cincinnati Bengals' star Devon Still, whose 4-year-old daughter's fight with cancer gained national attention earlier this year.
"I never gave up for a second even when I got a terminal diagnosis; never thought about sitting back and not living life anymore,"
Hill told WKRC-TV about playing her last basketball game. "I love the roar of the crowd, the squeaking of the shoes. I can't wait to be on this court and wearing #22."
Her coach, Dan Benjamin, told the television station that Hill's bravery is uncommon.
"She's a special person," he said. "This girl is so strong, she's dealing with death and all she's thinking about is everyone else. Her team first her family first, and just to give her that one last wish would be incredible for our program and our players."
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