GREENVILLE, S.C. โ Theย LSU women's basketball team expectsย to be released from the hospital Saturday after she suffered a concussion in the Tigers' win over Ole Miss.ย
The LSU junior guard has "movement and feeling throughout her body," the team said. According to coach Kim Mulkey, her CT scan came back clean.ย
The injury, which forced Poa to leave the court on a stretcher and head to a nearby hospital, occurred in the fourth quarter of the game, a Southeastern Conference tournament semifinal.ย
"She was just a little bit unresponsive, mostly is how I would describe it," Mulkey said. "She could squeeze your hand lightly. She could tell you she could feel her legs, but she couldn't really articulate good enough for you not to be afraid."
On the LSU defensive possession, Poa attempted to take a charge, but her head collided with the Bon Secours Wellness Arena floor. She then tried to walk to the bench, with the help of a couple LSU teammates, but stumbled back down to the court, where she lay for several minutes while trainers tended to her.ย
On the LSU bench, some of her teammates were visibly shaken.ย
"Honestly, I don't give a damn about the game at that point," Mulkey said. "I really don't. That's somebody's child. That's my player. Those are my players in that huddle. When I got to the huddle, it was bad. It was just very, very emotional."
When Poa left the game at the 5:44 mark of the fourth, LSU led 62-56. Over the next five minutes, the Tigers outscored Ole Miss 13-11.ย
After the game, Ole Miss coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin called Poa's injury 'unfortunate" and suggested that the SEC examine how its officials call blocks and charges.ย
"That was dangerous," McPhee-McCuin said. "She was trying to make a play. Right now, the rule says no matter where you are on the floor, attempt to get up under someone and take a charge. Then she had to go out on a stretcher. So, something has to be done with that rule.
"It's simple. If we're trying to protect players, let's protect players. That's not the officials' fault. It's the rule that's wrong, all right?"
Poa, a reserve guard from Melbourne, Australia, has started LSU's last three games in place of freshman Mikaylah Williams, whose battling plantar fasciitis in her foot.ย
This season, she's drawn 30 charges and recorded 37 steals.ย
"Poa is one of the toughest kids I've coached," Mulkey said. "I know she will be fine. I know the power of prayer. We were doing a lot of praying in that huddle."
With its , LSU advanced to the tournament title game for the first time since 2012. It's set to face No. 1 South Carolina at 2 p.m. Sunday in a rematch of the two teams' Jan. 25 meeting, which the Gamecocks won 76-70.ย