BATON ROUGE — LSU women's basketball coach Kim Mulkey declined to say why senior point guard Last-Tear Poa was away from the team for its first exhibition against Xavier on Thursday night inside the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.

Poa was not present for team warmups and was not with the the team on the bench during the game. LSU won its first tune-up for the 2024-25 season over Xavier, 114-53.

After the game, Mulkey told reporters that Poa "was taking care of business off the floor."

When asked if Poa would be away from the team for an extended amount of time or to share details as to why she wasn't with the team, Mulkey said, "I've told you all I'm going to tell you."

The last time the media was able to be around the team was when it opened preseason practice at the end of September, Poa was with the team and going through drills.

Poa has been a mainstay for the Tigers coming off the bench the past two seasons under Mulkey. She only missed one game last season, the SEC Tournament Championship Game versus South Carolina. She suffered a concussion late in the Ole Miss game in the tournament semifinals.

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While LSU is deep at the guard position after Mulkey and her staff's efforts in the transfer portal over the offseason, Poa is the most experienced guard on the team, having played the past two seasons.

Poa averaged a career-high 20 minutes last season, scoring 4.9 points per game but was more known for her defensive prowess and ability to take charges.

With Poa out, Miami transfer Shyeann Day-Wilson handled the point guard duties for the Tigers against Xavier. Day-Wilson scored 7 points with four assists.

Kim Mulkey on Sa'Myah Smith, Mikaylah Williams

Junior forward Sa'Myah Smith and sophomore sensation Mikaylah Williams also did not play against Xavier but were with the team during warmups and on the bench during the game.

Mulkey said she "chose not to play Sa'Myah" in the game while Williams sitting out was more cautionary as Mulkey revealed she turned an ankle during practice the on Tuesday.

"No need to play her in a game like this," Mulkey said.

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Cory Diaz covers the LSU Tigers for The Daily Advertiser as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow his Tigers coverage on Twitter: @ByCoryDiaz. Got questions regarding LSU athletics? Send them to Cory Diaz at bdiaz@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: Kim Mulkey talks Last-Tear Poa absence at LSU exhibition vs Xavier