LSU junior guard Last-Tear Poa has movement in her extremities and returned a clean CT scan after apparently suffering frightening injuries to her head and neck area during her team’s 75-67 win over Ole Miss in the SEC women’s basketball tournament semifinals on Saturday.
Lady Tigers head coach Kim Mulkey revealed the news to reporters postgame.
Per Cory Diaz of the Daily Advertiser, Poa was transported to St. Francis Hospital in Greenville, South Carolina, where the tournament is taking place, for further evaluation.
The injuries occurred after Poa attempted to draw a charge on Ole Miss’ Madison Scott with just under six minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. Poa hit her head and neck on the court under the basket as she fell.
She stayed down initially before trying to get off the court, but Poa laid back on the court as officials tended to her. Medical staff put Poa’s neck in a brace before she was stretchered off the court.
Poa, a junior from Melbourne, Australia, entered the Ole Miss game averaging 5.0 points on 43.3 percent shooting, 3.1 assists and 1.2 steals in 20.7 minutes per game. She’s played in 31 games (nine starts) for the No. 8 LSU Lady Tigers this season.
The injury obviously had a profound effect on her teammates and coaches, who still had to get through nearly six minutes of game time to finish off the win.
LSU star Angel Reese was one of them.
Angel Reese @Reese10Angel
I LOVE YOU POA! THIS FOR YOU 13!💜
Reed Darcey @byreeddarcey
Angel Reese on Last-Tear Poa’s injury: “That was the hardest last five minutes of a game I’ve ever played, emotionally, physically, mentally.” #LSU
Matthew Brune @MatthewBrune_
Angel Reese postgame:
“It was for Poa tonight. I’m emotional just because we know how much she brings to the team and I hope she’s OK and we’re going to go check on her.
“We have already been through adversity this year, so we trusted each other. We were built for this moment.”
Players and coaches also prayed on the court post-incident:
Cory Diaz @ByCoryDiaz
#LSU praying for Last-Tear Poa. pic.twitter.com/vwFd4ZgCCV
LSU ultimately held on for the eight-point win and will now face undefeated South Carolina in the SEC tournament championship game on Sunday.
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