College basketball star Last-Tear Po was carried off the court on a stretcher during Saturday night’s game after falling and hitting his head.
The Louisiana State University guard, 22, collapsed while on the court as the Tigers played the University of Mississippi in the Southeastern Conference tournament. According to the Associated Press, Poa was injured in the fourth quarter and began to walk off the court with help — before laying on the floor and being carried off by paramedics.
LSU coach Kim Mulkey said during a news conference Saturday that the Australian-born player was taken to St. Louis Hospital. Francis in Greenville, SC. She was diagnosed with a concussion, but her initial exams were otherwise clean.
“The trainer told me that her cat scan … came back clean, so that’s great news,” Mulkey said, noting that Poa still has movement in her extremities but is somewhat unresponsive. “The kid licked the back of her head a lot. I didn’t even see it. I saw it on film just a minute ago and I wouldn’t even watch it.”
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“I know enough about Poa that if she can’t get up, and if she tries to get up – she’s in bad shape,” the head coach continued, adding that Poa’s teammates were extremely concerned about her condition.
The injury occurred when Ole Miss forward Madison Scott tried to take a step toward the end of the court, but was blocked by Poa. The players crashed into each other, and Poa fell to the floor and immediately caught 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 fiercest kids I’ve coached. I know it will be fine. I know the power of prayer and we prayed a lot in that crowd.”
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On Sunday morning, LSU announced that the junior college will not play in the championship game of the Southeastern Conference Tournament. A university spokesman told the AP that although Poa was released overnight, she would stay at a nearby hotel and watch the game from there.
Poa, a native of Melbourne, started 10 games this past season, including the last three, and most recently scored five points against Ole Miss. She previously transferred from Northwest Florida State College in 2022.
On Sunday, the Tigers will face the first-place South Carolina Gamecocks in the championship game.
Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education