Everything Kim Mulkey said about Last-Tear Poa's injury: LSU coach addresses guard's scary concussion
LSU women's basketball head coach Kim Mulkey offered reporters an update on Tigers guard Last-Tear Poa on Saturday, after the sharpshooter was stretchered off following a scary concussion suffered against Ole Miss in the SEC Tournament.
According to Mulkey, Poa's CT scan came back clean and she had movement in her extremities, but the injury was jarring to see.
"As I was walking to this press conference, the trainer told me her [CT scan] came back clean," Mulkey told reporters, per WCBI News. "So that's wonderful news. I spoke to her mother ... The kid took quite a lick on the back of her head. I did not see it. I saw it on the film just a minute ago and I wouldn't even look at it."
Here's the whole update from Kim Mulkey on Last-Tear Poa: pic.twitter.com/ecWmUINKkJ
— Grace Ybarra (@gnybarra) March 10, 2024
Last-Tear Poa injury update
Mulkey went on to praise Poa's toughness while saying it was immediately apparent the injury was severe.
REQUIRED READING: Last-Tear Poa injury update: LSU player stretchered off floor vs. Ole Miss after hard hit
"I know enough about Poa that if she can't get up and she tries to get up, she's in bad shape," Mulkey continued in her press conference. "Her teammates know that. She was just a little bit unresponsive is how I would describe it. She could squeeze your hand lightly. She could feel her legs. But she couldn't really articulate good enough for you not to be afraid."
Poa was taken to the hospital following her injury Saturday. The team gave an update on her status saying she was expected to be released Saturday night.
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
Mulkey and the LSU training staff were tending to Poa before she was stretchered off in a neck brace.
"The kids were right there," Mulkey said. "So they saw it all. So I sent them to the bench and told Coach (Bob) Starkey to take over while I stayed with Poa. I've been doing this a long time and I've seen some pretty bad injuries ... This is supposed to be a non-contact sport. Poa is one of the toughest kids I've coached. And I know she will be fine. I know the power of prayer. And we were doing a lot of praying in that huddle."
Following its emotional win over Ole Miss, LSU must now turn around and play South Carolina for the SEC Tournament Sunday.
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: Kim Mulkey gives update on LSU's Last-Tear Poa after scary concussion