Lauren Hill dies after fighting tumor to play college hoops

CINCINNATI (AP) — Lauren Hill spent her final year polishing a layup and inspiring others to live fully. She succeeded at both as she fought an inoperable brain tumor.

The 19-year-old freshman basketball player at Mount St. Joseph University died at a hospital this morning, the co-founder of her nonprofit foundation told The Associated Press.

"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," The Cure Starts Now co-founder Brooke Desserich said.

Hill wouldn't let the tumor dictate her final days. Along the way, she became known simply as Lauren, someone who knew how to make the most of every day and who had a knack for encouraging others to do the same by the way she persevered.

Her nonprofit foundation helped to raise more than $1.5 million for cancer research.

"She's made an impact on the world, more so than me — more than I ever will do," her coach Dan Benjamin said. "I've gotten so many emails and phone calls from all over the world. People are contacting me because they want to share her story."