LSU’s game against Ole Miss on Saturday evening should have been a coronation—a 75–67 win that saw the No. 8 Tigers advance to meet No. 1 South Carolina in the SEC championship.
Instead, LSU was left in shock after a devastating apparent injury.
Tigers guard Last-Tear Poa was stretchered off the Bon Secours Wellness Arena floor after a hard fall in fourth quarter.
After trying and failing to exit the court under her own power, she was stabilized and stretchered off the floor. Shaken, LSU’s players gathered in prayer before finishing off the Rebels.
Per the SEC Network, Tigers coach Kim Mulkey told her team that Poa is O.K. and was able to move her legs. ESPN reported that Poa was transported to the St. Francis Hospital.
Awful sight in Greenville, as Last-Tear Poa needs to be helped onto a stretcher after a hard fall to the floor. Her LSU teammates are understandably shaken up on the bench
— Alexa Philippou (@alexaphilippou) March 10, 2024
LSU praying for their teammate as Poa getting carted off. #LSU pic.twitter.com/s5cmigbgJo
— Chessa Bouche (@chessabouche) March 10, 2024
A native of Melbourne, Australia, Poa transferred to play for the Tigers from Northwest Florida State College in Niceville, Fla., before the 2023 season—and helped LSU win the national title in her first year.
After the game, Tigers coach Kim Mulkey noted that Poa’s CT scan came back clean; crucially, she also had movement in her extremities.
LSU later posted on social media that Poa had suffered a concussion.
Poa suffered a concussion, but has movement and feeling throughout her body. She is expected to be released from the hospital tonight 💜
— LSU Women's Basketball (@LSUwbkb) March 10, 2024
Poa scored five points and handed out four assists before exiting the game. She is averaging 5.0 points, 1.6 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game this season.
