LSU basketball star Last-Tear Poa is stretchered off the court with scary concussion scare
- Poa, 22, was ruled out of No. 8 LSU’s game against No. 1 South Carolina on Sunday
- LSU head coach Kim Mulkey said she was later told Poa’s scan was “clean.”
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LSU basketball star Last-Tear Poa was carted off the court with a concussion in a scary scene during the Lady Tigers SEC Tournament game against Ole Miss after hitting her head on the ground.
The 22-year-old fell hard and hit her head on the court in the final quarter of No. 8 LSU’s 75-67 win in Greenville, South Carolina, on Saturday night.
She was helped up and took a few steps before lying flat on the ground again and the ambulance was called.
Poa left court on a stretcher and was examined at St. Francis Hospital, where she was diagnosed with concussion and released overnight.
An LSU spokesperson said Poa would not be in the arena on Sunday, but would instead watch the Lady Tigers’ (72-79) SEC Championship loss to No. 1 South Carolina (31-0) at the team hotel .
LSU guard Last-Tear Poa (R) hit her head in concerning scenes in the 4th quarter against Ole Miss
She was carted off the field and ruled out of the SEC tournament due to a concussion
Poa is a 6-foot-2 junior from Australia. She had started the past three games with SEC freshman Mikaylah Williams nursing a sore foot.
On Saturday, LSU coach Kim Mulkey pointed out that Poa had movement in her extremities when she was taken off the field on a stretcher, a sign that the injury was not as bad as it initially seemed.
Mulkey said she was notified after the game that Poa’s scan at St. Francis Hospital in Greenville came back clean. “So that’s great news,” Mulkey said.
Poa – a 6-foot-2 junior from Australia – had five points in 17 minutes against the Rebels on Saturday
In the aftermath of the incident, LSU players huddled on the sidelines to pray as fans chanted “Poa.”
“The kid took a good lick on the back of her head,” Mulkey said. ‘I did not see it. I saw it on film a minute ago and I didn’t even want to watch it.”
Mulkey said Poa was a bit “unresponsive.”
“She might squeeze your hand ever so slightly,” Mulkey said. “She told you she could feel her legs, but she really couldn’t express it well enough for you not to be afraid.”
Poa has started a total of 10 games this season. She had five points in 17 minutes against the Rebels.
Mulkey was communicating with Poa’s family in Australia and was on her way to the hospital to be with her player.