LSU has advanced to the SEC championship game for the first time since 2012, thanks to an emotional 75-67 victory against Ole Miss that was cut short by a terrifying event late Saturday night.
Junior guard Last-Tear Poa was stretchered off the court with less than six minutes left in the contest. She was transported to St. Francis Hospital for additional investigation, where she was discovered to have movement in her extremities. Her CT scan came back clear, LSU head coach Kim Mulkey informed reporters after the game.
Poa appears to have injured her neck after attempting to take a charge and landing hard. Her head appeared to bounce on the floor as the collision pushed her towards the baseline.
She stayed down for a while initially, but then she tried to walk after LSU star Angel Reese attempted to support her weight. It was clear that Poa was struggling to stand, and she was gently directed back down by trainers who rushed to the scene.
Mulkey also hurried to the court, staying by Poa’s side as she was placed in a neck brace before paramedics lifted her away.
Poa’s teammates watched in tears, gathering on the sideline to pray together while fans chanted Poa’s name.
Sophomore Flaujae Johnson made a 3-pointer to increase the Tigers’ lead to 67-59 in the final three minutes of the game. She reached for her heart and yelled “That’s for Poa!” after it went in.
Reese and Johnson led LSU in scoring, both recording 21 points. Poa, who is from Australia, has started 10 games this season. She had five points in 17 minutes on Saturday.
