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LSU Basketball Star Last-Tear Poa Taken off Court on Stretcher After Collapsing and Hitting Her Head
The Tigers guard has since been diagnosed with a concussion, according to coach Kim Mulkey
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Last-Tear Poa on the court in 2023College basketball star Last-Tear Poa was taken off the court on a stretcher during a game on Saturday night, after she fell and hit her head.
The Louisiana State University guard, 22, collapsed while on the court as the Tigers played the University of Mississippi at the Southeastern Conference Tournament. According to the Associated Press, Poa had gotten hurt in the fourth quarter and began walking off the court with some help — before she laid flat on the floor and was carried out by paramedics.
LSU coach Kim Mulkey said during a press conference on Saturday that the Australian-born player was taken to St. Francis Hospital in Greenville, S.C. She has been diagnosed with a concussion, but her initial scans came back otherwise clean.
“The trainer told me that her cat scan … came back clean, so that’s wonderful news,” Mulkey said, noting that Poa still had movement in her extremities but was somewhat non-responsive. “The kid took quite a lick on the back of her head. I didn’t even see it. I saw it on the film just a minute ago and I wouldn’t even look at it.”
“I know enough about Poa that if she can’t get up, and that she tries to get up — she’s in bad shape,” the head coach continued, adding that Poa's teammates were extremely concerned with her condition.
The injury happened when Ole Miss forward Madison Scott tried to make a move toward the end of the court, but was blocked by Poa. The players smashed into each other, and Poa hit the floor and immediately held her head in her hands.
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“I’ve been doing this a long time and I’ve seen some pretty bad injuries… and this is supposed to be a non-contact sport,” Mulkey concluded. “Poa is one of the toughest kids I’ve coached. I know she will be fine. I know the power of prayer, and we were doing a lot of praying in that huddle.”
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On Sunday morning, LSU announced that the college junior will not play in the Southeastern Conference Tournament championship game. A university spokesman told AP that although Poa was released overnight, she will stay at a nearby hotel and watch the game from there.
Poa, originally from Melbourne, started 10 games this past season, including the last three, and had recently scored five points against Ole Miss. She previously transferred from Northwest Florida State College in 2022.
On Sunday, the Tigers will take on the first-ranked South Carolina Gamecocks in the championship.
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