During a Monday afternoon game, Mt. St. Ursula Academy sophomore basketball player Samira Ahmed (pictured, fourth from left) collapsed on the court and later died after being rushed to the hospital.

School officials do not know the cause of death at this time, said Cecilia Grande, a spokesperson for the school.

Grande said Mt. St. Ursula, an all-girls school on Bedford Park Boulevard, is in a somber state of mourning. Yesterday, the school held a special mass for Ahmed, during which classmates held up posters created in her memory.

"It’s been a very difficult time," Grande said.

Samira, less than a month away from her 16th birthday, was well-liked by her friends and classmates who called her "Smiles." She was also a member of the school’s Photo Club in addition to being one of the best players and a captain on the junior varsity basketball team.

"She was an honor student and role model to her fellow classmates," Grande said in an email earlier today.

For the past two days, grief counselors have been at the Ursula campus to help out students and faculty during this rough time, Grande said.

The basketball team is planning to retire her number 3 jersey, Grande said, perhaps in the near future. The team plays tonight on the Ursula campus. Grande expects it to be a packed house.

Details about what happened on Monday are few. Earlier in the day, the school held a pep rally for it’s game that night against Preston. (The above photo, provided by the school, was taken during the rally.) The junior varsity game tipped off at 4:15 p.m. and Samira’s parents, Rosey and Amadu Ahmed were in attendance.

At some point in the game, Samira collapsed on the court. Her parents accompanied her off the court and to Montefiore Medical Center where she was pronounced dead.

It’s unclear exactly when she was pronounced dead and Grande said the school does not know what caused the death. An autopsy will be performed, she said.

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This is Mt. St. Ursula’s official statement about the death:

In Memoriam:

 Samira Ahmed
January 12, 1993 – December 15, 2008

 The entire community of the Academy of Mount St. Ursula is deeply saddened by the untimely death of our student, Samira Ahmed.

 The students, faculty and staff offer their heartfelt condolences to her family and pledge their support in every way possible as they navigate through this valley of darkness.

May the Good Shepherd lead Samira safely home and embrace her family with his love.